Rwanda’s President Kagame announced their bid to host an F1 race, stating that “I am happy to formally announce that Rwanda is bidding to bring the thrill of racing back to Africa.” This was at the 2024 FiA Prize Giving held in the country’s capital, Kigali, signaling a strong relationship between the country and the CEO of F1 Stefano Domenicali. This potential endeavour proves even more exciting considering that F1 hasn’t raced in Africa in over 30 years.
Formula 1 first raced in Africa in 1956, 6 years after the championship’s inauguration, at the Ain-Diab circuit in Morocco. This was a non-championship round, but in 1957 the sport would return to the track for its only championship round.
Mike Hawthorn, Ferrari 246, Grand Prix of Morocco, Ain-Diab Circuit, Casablanca, 19 October 1958. Mike Hawthorn on his way to second place in the 1958 Grand Prix of Morocco, the final race of the season, when he clinched the World Championship title. (Photo by Bernard Cahier/Getty Images)
It would take 5 years for the F1 to return to the continent, this time racing at South Africa’s Prince George Circuit. The track hosted races in the 1962, 63 and 65 seasons, before the South African Grand Prix would be relocated to the better known Kyalami circuit. This race would be a prominent part of the calendar hosting the season opener 6 times and the finale once before it would leave the calendar in 1985.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 12: A general view during practice for the inaugral Grand Prix Masters race at Kyalami circuit on November 12, 2005 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Getty Images for Grand Prix Masters)
This departure acted as a sanction for the ongoing Apartheid system, which institutionalised racial segregation in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s. Though horrific acts of violence such as the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre and the 1976 Soweto Uprising had already spurred sporting boycotts such as the 1964 barring of South Africa in the Olympics and the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement, racing in the country still proved economically viable for many countries in the West so it continued. This was until the international Anti-Apartheid Movement reached its peak in the 1980s, when the blatant violation of human rights could no longer be ignored. Thus, after the 1985 GP, former FIA president Jean-Marie Balestre announced that Formula One would not race in South Africa until the Apartheid regime was ended.
Anti-apartheid marchers carrying a banner reading ‘Boycott Apartheid’ (among them (from second left) British Church of England Bishop and cricketer David Sheppard (1929-2005), British Labour Party politician Anne Kerr (1925-1973), British Methodist minister Lord Donald Soper (1903-1998) and British Labour Party politician Ian Mikardo (1908-1993)) marching to Twickenham rugby ground where England are playing South Africa, in London, England, 20th December 1969. (Photo by Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
With the formal end of Apartheid, Formula One returned to the Kyalami Circuit for the 1992 and 1993 seasons. However new track owners, South African Automobile Association, decided that running the grand prix was too costly, so Kyalami did not return to the calendar.
Over 20 years later, in 2016, efforts were put in to renovate the track, certifying it as Grade 2 following its severe decline in quality. This still wasn’t the necessary Grade 1 certification needed for Formula One to host a race though.
The next time that Kyalami would be considered was only last year, as there were rumours of discussions to bring F1 back to the track. This never came to fruition though due to accusations from the United States ambassador to South Africa that they had supplied arms to Russia in its war with Ukraine. Therefore, any hopes of returning to Kyalami were essentially scrapped. Instead Rwanda seems to be the best chance for Formula 1 to return to Africa.
Rwanda suffered massively following the 1994 genocide. This saw the loss of 30% of their population in 100 days, causing the economy to stop functioning as most infrastructure had been destroyed. Since then, the country has undergone major transformation. Rwanda is currently flourishing economically with them being ranked as Africa’s 2nd least corrupt, 2nd fastest growing and 2nd most improved country as well as Africa’s easiest place to do business. Their growing economy is most evident through their investments in Kigali airport and the massive growth in transportation links. However, one may question why a Formula One race would be the next step.
Formula One is incredible at bolstering a country’s economy through tourism. According to globalEdge “The Singapore Grand Prix has welcomed more than 450,000 international visitors, contributing around $1.4 billion in tourism receipts.” This aligns with Rwanda’s tourism goals, with the country already making $USD 620 million in tourism revenues as of 2023. They have already used sports in order to boost the Visit Rwanda initiative through partnerships with Arsenal and PSG.
Thus the possibility of Formula One racing in Rwanda benefits both parties: with Rwanda boosting their tourism, and F1 tapping into the African motorsport market.
KIGALI, RWANDA – DECEMBER 13: In this handout provided by Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Lando Norris of Great Britain and Mclaren receives the 2nd position award during the FIA Awards 2024 on December 13, 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda. (Photo by Handout/FIA/DPPI via Getty Images )
