President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame hosted senior motorsport officials and business leaders for a dinner following the announcement that Rwanda will bring Formula 1 racing back to Africa in the early 2030s.
The gathering included Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), motorsport’s governing body, and Stefano Domenicali, president and chief executive of Formula 1.
The Office of the President, Village Urugwiro, reported the dinner on Tuesday, October 13, after Rwanda and Formula 1 announced a 10-year agreement to stage the African Grand Prix.
In a statement shared on its official X account, Village Urugwiro said Kagame and the First Lady welcomed the two motorsport leaders, business executives from across the continent and other partners in the racing community.
The agreement marks Formula 1’s return to Africa for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix. The new race will be held on a purpose-built circuit planned for Bugesera District, near the new Kigali International Airport.
Formula 1 said the circuit would be developed to meet FIA Grade 1 standards, the highest certification required to host a Formula 1 race. Construction must be completed before the inaugural event can take place.
The race is expected to join the championship calendar in the early 2030s, but officials have not yet announced an exact date for the first Grand Prix or detailed construction milestones.
Rwanda formally pursued the opportunity to host a Formula 1 race in 2024, when Kagame raised the country’s ambition during the FIA General Assembly in Kigali. The announcement on Tuesday formalised the plan through a long-term agreement.
The Grand Prix is part of Rwanda’s wider strategy to attract international sporting events and strengthen its tourism and business profile. The country has hosted major competitions and sporting gatherings, including the 2025 UCI Road World Championships and the 2024 FIA General Assembly.
Formula 1 and the Rwandan authorities say the Bugesera project is intended to support tourism, investment, skills development and opportunities for local businesses. Further details on the circuit’s construction and the inaugural race weekend are expected to be announced later.
