In the afternoon, the official announcement arrived: Rwanda has submitted its bid to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Rwanda has officially presented its bid to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix. After the rumors in recent weeks, the news that had been in the air finally arrived this afternoon: the African continent is making a strong push to bring the world’s most important motorsport competition closer.
According to sources close to the organizers, the new circuit will be built in Bugesera, near Kigali. The state-of-the-art hilly track, located near an airport, was designed by former Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz. The ex-Williams driver has been working closely with the organizers through his company for over a year to bring Formula 1 back to Africa.
Rwanda’s bid is not the only project Wurz’s company is involved in, as work is also progressing steadily on the new futuristic circuit in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to be included in the calendar in 2028.
TReturning to the main news, the country’s push is strong, as emphasized by the words of Rwanda’s president: “I am pleased to officially announce that Rwanda is bidding to bring the thrill of racing back to Africa by hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix. A big thank you to Stefano Domenicali and the entire F1 team for the good progress made so far in our discussions. I assure you that we are approaching this opportunity with the seriousness and commitment it deserves.”
The president of the FIA, Ben Sulayem, echoed similar sentiments: “Being here in Rwanda for such an important moment in the FIA calendar is a testament to the strength of this nation, particularly its growing influence in motorsport. We are aligned on our values and shared goals in key areas such as innovation, sustainability, and road safety, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration. The future of motorsport in Africa is bright.”