A 'landmark' moment - why has Rwanda been chosen to host F1?

Key points

• Rwanda has signed a 10-year deal to host an African Grand Prix from the early 2030s.
• The new circuit is being built in Bugesera, 25 miles south of Kigali, and is expected to be completed by 2030.
• The deal has drawn criticism from Amnesty International over Rwanda's human rights record.

Rwanda has signed a 10-year agreement to host a Formula 1 African Grand Prix starting in the early 2030s, ending the sport's nearly 40-year absence from Africa. The last grand prix on the continent was held in South Africa in 1993.

F1 president Stefano Domenicali called the deal a "landmark" achievement. The announcement was made in Kigali alongside Rwandan President Paul Kagame and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Why Rwanda was chosen

Rwanda succeeded where Morocco and South Africa failed because it assembled a single plan with the necessary financial backing and ambition. Morocco lacked finances, while South Africa had up to four separate projects with different promoters.

The new circuit is being built in Bugesera, 25 miles south of Kigali, as part of a wider development near a new international airport. The site is currently greenfield, and insiders say completing the project by 2030 should pose no difficulties.

It is the legacy of all of us to be in this very special moment

— Stefano Domenicali

Track design and reaction

The track, designed by former F1 driver Alex Wurz, is envisaged to be about 6km (3.7 miles) long with 17 corners and nearly 200m of elevation change. Wurz has said he was inspired by classic circuits like Spa-Francorchamps, Suzuka and Mugello.

The race is likely to be controversial as Rwanda has previously been accused of sportswashing. Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK's head of campaigns, said: "Rwanda is buying into the world's biggest sports to polish its image and deflect from its appalling human rights record."