Formula 1 has confirmed a 10-year deal
to race in Rwanda. For Kenyan fans, the continent's first Grand Prix in over
three decades will be a short, visa-free flight away.
Formula 1 is coming back to Africa, and
this time it is almost next door.
On Tuesday in Kigali, Formula 1 and the
Government of Rwanda announced a 10-year deal for a new race, officially titled
the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda. President Paul
Kagame, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem
attended the launch. Kagame called the partnership "long overdue."
The race will be held on a new circuit
about 40km south of Kigali, next to the Bugesera International Airport, which
is under construction. The first race could take place as early as 2030,
depending on when the track is finished.
Africa's first Grand Prix since 1993
Africa last hosted Formula 1 in 1993, at
Kyalami near Johannesburg. Since then, F1 has raced on every other inhabited
continent. Fans, and drivers such as seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton,
have spent years calling for a race in Africa.
Rwanda is the first new host nation to be
confirmed since Qatar and Saudi Arabia joined the calendar in 2021. It beat
competing projects in South Africa and Morocco.
Why Kenyans are among the best-placed fans in the world
Most F1 fans travel a long way to see a
race. Kenyans will have a much easier trip than most.
● No visa needed. Kenyans can travel to Rwanda
without a visa, so there are no embassy queues or long application times.
● A short flight. Nairobi to Kigali takes under
two hours, with several flights a day.
● A long weekend, not a long-haul trip. You
could leave on Friday morning, watch qualifying on Saturday and the race on
Sunday, and be home on Monday.
A trip to Silverstone, Abu Dhabi or Doha
needs months of planning and a large budget. An African Grand Prix in Kigali
will be within reach of many more Kenyan fans.
"I've stood in the grandstands at
Silverstone, and I know how much it takes for a Kenyan fan to get there: the
visa, the long flights, the cost. Having Formula 1 in Kigali changes
everything. For the first time, Kenyan fans won't be watching Africa's biggest
motorsport weekend from far away. We'll be just a short flight from the track,
and that's something to celebrate." Kui Muriithi, Head of Marketing and
Operations, ViuTravel
What a Kigali race weekend could look like
A Grand Prix weekend is more than the
race. Around the world, F1 weekends come with concerts, fan zones, food
festivals and parties across the host city. Kigali already hosts events of this
kind. The Basketball Africa League holds its games at BK Arena, and the Giants
of Africa Festival pairs basketball with big-name music acts.
For travellers, the race is also a chance
to see the rest of Rwanda. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, the
canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest and the shores of Lake Kivu can all be added to a
race weekend.
Don't wait until 2030
The track still has to be built, but you
can visit Kigali now. Its event calendar already includes:
● The Basketball Africa League (BAL), with
games, playoffs and finals at BK Arena
● The Kigali International Peace Marathon in
June, with full, half and 10km races open to international runners
● The Giants of Africa Festival, a week of
basketball, culture and concerts
"The F1 announcement is a big
moment, but Kigali is already one of the most exciting event cities in the
region. Our advice to Kenyan fans is to start exploring Rwanda now. When the
first race comes, you'll already know the city." Kui Muriithi,
ViuTravel
ViuTravel is following the African Grand
Prix closely and will share travel updates as plans develop. To be among the
first to hear about race-weekend packages, and about event weekends in Kigali
before then, follow ViuTravel on social media or visit https://viutravel.com/.