Reigning three-time FIA African Rally Champion Karan Patel has described Rwanda’s landmark 10-year deal to host the Formula 1 African Grand Prix as an “incredible feat” for the continent, saying the whole ecosystem will immensely benefit from this momentous comeback.
Speaking to The New Times Rwanda on the sidelines of the historic announcement in Kigali, the African motorsport icon said the ecent will hand Kenyans the opportunity to visit Rwanda when the race happens .
“It’s an incredible feat and not surprised that it is Rwanda who made this incredible project happen and we are very proud that our neighbour is going to host the Formula 1,” Patel said.
“As Kenyans we are really excited to have this opportunity at least to visit when the race happens.”
The 2026 African Rally Champion, who recently clinched his continental title in Tanzania after dominating the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally earlier this season, attended the event as a primary representative of East African motorsport royalty alongside regional dignitaries, government officials and motorsport stakeholders.
Patel said the impact of the Grand Prix will go far beyond race day.
“The whole ecosystem in Africa will benefit from this momentous event. It’s huge for Africa, it’s huge for East Africa and we are looking forward to it,” he said.
Commenting on the legacy beyond the race, Patel added: “The race is going to bring a lot to the ecosystem, and we are yet to wait and see, as the President said, there are a lot of people who will benefit – on logistics, planning, safety and training. It’s going to bring a lot to the country , East Africa and Africa as a whole.”
Formula 1 has announced a landmark 10-year agreement to bring the sport back to the African continent, with the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, set to join the calendar in the early 2030s.
The agreement marks a defining moment in F1’s history and will see the sport return to Africa for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.
Racing in Africa has been a long-standing ambition for F1, with Tuesday’s announcement following years of collaboration to ensure the right foundations, with the best partner, are in place to deliver a successful, sustainable and world-class Grand Prix for generations to come.
The long-term agreement will see the first race in the country take place once a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, Rwanda, has been completed, which is expected to be early in the next decade.
The new track will be developed to FIA Grade 1 standards as part of a wider sports, tourism, infrastructure, and commercial development project led by the Rwanda Development Board.
Located approximately 40 kilometres south of capital city Kigali, and adjacent to the new Kigali International Airport in Bugesera, the circuit will be designed to work in harmony with the natural landscape, using the area’s elevation changes to create a unique and challenging racing experience while delivering exceptional viewing opportunities for fans.
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