Rwanda: Kagame Announces 10-Year Formula One Grand Prix Deal

NEW: Rwanda signs a 10-year deal to host a Formula One Grand Prix, bringing the championship back to Africa for the first time in nearly four decades, President Paul Kagame announces.

Formula One is coming back to Africa after 33 years, and Rwanda got it.

President Paul Kagame announced a ten year deal to host a Grand Prix, the first on the continent since the 1993 South African race. Here's the announcement moment, Visit Rwanda branding and all. The race goes to a purpose built circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali, right next to the new international airport, built to FIA Grade 1 standards with the natural hills doing the design work.

The first race isn't expected until the early 2030s, so pack patience with the passport. But the logic is hard to argue with. Over 100 million F1 fans in Africa, and in key Sub-Saharan markets nearly 60 percent of them are under 35. That's the youngest audience the sport has anywhere, and for four decades it never came to visit.

Ten years signed. Now Rwanda has to build a track worthy of it.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.