Paul Kagame, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, confirmed the African nation’s bid for hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Talks of Rwanda making a bid to bring F1 back to Africa for the first time in over 30 years have been gathering pace for some time.
Representatives of the Rwanda Development Board travelled to this year’s Monaco GP to meet with the FIA and the motorsport governing body’s Annual General Assembly and Prize Giving Ceremony is being held in the Rwandan capital of Kigali on Friday.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has held talks with representatives in September and Kagame has now confirmed plans for a future GP are taking shape.
“I am happy to formally announce that Rwanda is bidding to bring the thrill of racing back to Africa, by hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix,” the Rwandan President said as he opened the FIA General Assemblies in Kigali on Friday.
“A big thank you to Stefano Domenicali, and the entire team at Formula 1, for the good progress in our discussions so far.
“I assure you that we are approaching this opportunity with the seriousness and commitment, which it deserves. Together, we will build something we can all be proud of.”
An F1 circuit will be constructed near the planned development of Bugesera airport near Kigali.
The design will be handled by former Grand Prix driver Alexander Wurz.
Zandvoort frees up spot for Rwanda on F1 calendar
With F1’s calendar currently at a record 24 races long, one shy of the maximum allowed in the current Concorde Agreement, there is limited room for adding new races.
However, F1’s global standing is growing and new markets want a slice of the action.
Rwanda is no different and its bid will take time, which could improve its chances of slotting into the calendar.
This is because the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort will drop off the calendar at the end of 2026.
Moreover, with growing interest in F1, Domenicali has previously stated there’s a chance for European rounds to be rotated on a bi-annual basis.
News that Rwanda’s bid is taking shape will be welcome to Lewis Hamilton, who has previously stated F1 can’t continue overlooking Africa.
“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 told select media including Motorsport Week at Zandvoort in August.
“There’s a huge amount of work there that needs to be done. I think a lot of the world that haven’t been there don’t realise how beautiful the place is and how vast it is.
“I think having a Grand Prix there would really be able to highlight how great the place is and bring in tourism and all sorts of things so why are we not on that continent?”
READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton: F1 can’t ‘continue to ignore Africa’ amid Rwanda links
