Rwanda Awarded 10 Year Formula One Contract

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Rwanda has been chosen by Formula One as the country in Africa to host Formula One races. I am sure the FIA Conference that was held in Rwanda last year was the deciding factor with many thinking it was either going to Morocco or South Africa. Rwanda as a country has too much baggage and a shocking human rights record and is definitely not on my bucket list as a destination.

The first Rwandan Grand Prix race is expected to feature on the racing calendar in the early 2030's and not before. The track first needs to be planned and drawn up before being signed off. This will be a proper race track built from scratch so there will be no holding back like we have seen with some of the terrible street circuits like Madrid.

What Rwanda has done is convince the FIA and F1 that they are the right country to host Formula One by having a clear and concise plan. The finances are in place along with government backing which is very important as that is the part that removes risk.

When you compare this to Morocco who at one stage were likely to land the deal they never even had the finances so this failed before it gathered momentum. South Africa on the other hand confused themselves by having four separate bids using 3 different locations. What a huge cock up and they only have themselves to blame because Cape Town almost certainly thought they had done the deal. The problem it was another street circuit with restricted roads that maybe make a great spectacle with Table Mountain in the back ground, but as racing goes definitely not.

The last race in Africa was held at Kyalami in Johannesburg with the race track privately owned and the layout is nothing special. The problem with South Africa is the government itself with broken promises and they are not serious about doing business which makes investors nervous. The infrastructure and how this is not maintained tells you all you need to know.

Recently SA hosted the G20 summit and repaired the roads from the airport to the area where the dignitaries would be staying. This would give the impression that as a city Johannesburg is functioning properly. Drive a different route and you would see another side which was all smoke and mirrors.

South Africa is rumored to be planning a bid for the Summer Olympics which they cannot afford and the people of SA do not want this. The country hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup with their emphasis on corruption and how much could be stolen constructing the stadiums. The country is bankrupt and only survived on EU and US hand outs and highlights a lack of leadership and foresight to pave their own way forward.


The Rwandan Formula One race track will be 40 kilometers south of the capital Kigali in a new area called Bugesera which will also see a new airport constructed next door to the track. The business model is to use the area for hosting various motor races throughout the year whilst attracting conferences using the facilities. There will be hotels and spa's being constructed plus residential and various other sporting facilities on offer in the region.

Rwanda has been very proactive of late hosting many high end sporting events and seems to be on the up as a destination. The question mark hangs over Rwanda itself as the country still receives financial aid which why one has to question this decision. Is this sports washing trying to hide the past with all the genocide and butchering that has happened here along with broken treaties with the Congo. This is not a venue I would have selected because of the shocking human rights record they have as a nation. Rather not have a race in Africa just for the sake of having a race.