President Paul Kagame of Rwanda says hosting a Formula One Grand Prix would reshape Africa’s image in global sports, as Rwanda pushes to bring the championship back to the continent for the first time since 1993.
Rwanda has renewed its ambition to host a Formula One Grand Prix, with the East African nation targeting a return of the prestigious motorsport championship to Africa in the early 2030s.
Speaking at an announcement ceremony in Kigali, the country’s capital, President Paul Kagame said hosting the race would change how Africa is perceived internationally in the world of sports.
Kagame’s remarks come after years of efforts by Rwanda to secure a place on the Formula One calendar, which features races held across several continents.
International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the briefing was about more than announcing a race, describing the proposed Grand Prix as an opportunity to open a new chapter in Formula One’s history.
If successful, the proposed Grand Prix would mark the first Formula One race on African soil since 1993, when the championship last held a race on the continent.
Rwanda has increasingly turned to sports as part of its strategy to raise its international profile and attract investment, building on initiatives involving football, basketball and other sporting events.
A Formula One race would represent a significant addition to those efforts, potentially bringing global attention to Rwanda through one of the world’s most widely followed motorsport competitions.
The proposed return would also mark a major moment for African motorsport fans, who have been without a Formula One Grand Prix on the continent for more than three decades.
However, the race is being targeted for the early 2030s, with further details on the proposed event and its preparations yet to be established.
