Formula 1 is set to return to Africa after a 33-year absence, with a 10-year agreement to host a Grand Prix in Rwanda. The sport’s boss, Stefano Domenicali, called it a “landmark moment for Formula One”.
The championship will have raced on every inhabited continent with Rwanda joining the calendar. Domenicali said F1 always wanted to go back to Africa, but only with the right partner and a proper long-term plan. They had been seeking a suitable location for some time.
The race will be held 40 kilometers from the capital of Kigali on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera. An official date has not yet been set for the event, but the first race has been earmarked for the early 2030s.
Rwanda president Paul Kagame noted that Africa has more than 100 million F1 fans, making it a relatively untapped market for the sport. Domenicali stated that Formula 1 races in some of the most iconic destinations on Earth and they have built a truly global championship. He also said that for too long, one place remained missing from their journey, which is Africa.
Read Also: Citroën revives 2CV as budget electric car
Lewis Hamilton had hinted that Rwanda would be on the cards and spoke about Africa in general, saying: “We can’t be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa which the rest of the world takes from, no one gives anything to Africa.” Hamilton added that having a Grand Prix in Africa would highlight the continent’s beauty and bring in tourism.
Rwanda is one of Hamilton’s favorite places, and he has been doing work in the background to make the project a reality. Hamilton said that he has spoken to people in Rwanda and South Africa, and that this is a long project in Rwanda, but it’s amazing that they’re so keen to get it.
It marks a new chapter in the sport’s history, and Domenicali is pleased with the progress they have made.
