Rwanda appears to have pulled ahead of South Africa in the race to host Africa’s first Formula One Grand Prix since 1993, with reports suggesting a debut in 2030. Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s sports minister, congratulated Rwanda, acknowledging that Kigali had been working on bringing the race back to Africa longer than Pretoria has. No official announcement has been made. Rwanda’s proposal involves building a new circuit near Bugesera airport, outside Kigali, with costs expected to reach hundreds of millions of dollars. The country launched its F1 bid in 2024 as part of a broader strategy of using major sporting events to raise its international profile. Formula One has sought to expand its global footprint amid growing popularity among younger audiences and women. Adding an African circuit could further that expansion if the proposed race goes ahead.