What happened the last time F1 raced in Africa explained

Formula 1 has signed a 10-year agreement to stage a grand prix in Rwanda from the early 2030s, ending the sport's longest continental drought and bringing F1 back to Africa for the first time since 1993.

The event, to be branded the African Grand Prix presented by Visit Rwanda, will be held at a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, around 40 kilometres south of Kigali and next to the new Kigali International Airport. 

The track layout has been designed through a collaboration between Wurz Design and Tilke GmbH, making use of the area's natural elevation changes, and is being built to FIA Grade 1 standard. 

An exact debut year has not been confirmed, with the deal only specifying the early 2030s once the circuit and surrounding infrastructure are complete.

The announcement closes a chapter that has run since 14 March 1993, when the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was last held. Alain Prost won that race for Williams from pole position, finishing 1 minute 19.824 seconds ahead of Ayrton Senna's McLaren, with Mark Blundell completing the podium for Ligier a lap down.

Prost led home a Williams one-two threat that never materialised, as teammate Damon Hill, who had started fourth, was eliminated in a collision. Michael Schumacher, starting third for Benetton, spun off and failed to score, while the Jordan drivers of Rubens Barrichello and Ivan Capelli both retired, with Barrichello out with gearbox trouble and Capelli spinning off. 

Behind the top three, Christian Fittipaldi brought his Minardi home fourth a lap down, with Jyrki Järvilehto fifth for Sauber two laps adrift. Gerhard Berger's Ferrari rounded out the points in sixth after retiring late with an engine failure. The race was also notable for its heavy attrition, with 20 of the 26 starters failing to finish, many of them through spins and collisions rather than mechanical failure.

Why Kyalami failed to return

Kyalami's absence from the calendar has largely come down to money and certification. The circuit has lacked the FIA Grade 1 status required to host a modern grand prix, and the safety and paddock upgrades needed to secure it would reportedly cost tens of millions of dollars. 

A revival attempt for a 2023 race at the venue collapsed after organisers failed to secure the financial guarantees Formula One Management demanded, a setback RacingNews365 reported at the time. Rising annual sanctioning fees have since made the project even harder to justify without direct government backing, according to Bloomberg.

Rwanda, by contrast, has treated its bid as a state-backed initiative from the outset, with the Rwanda Development Board folding the circuit into a wider push on tourism and sports diplomacy.