Rwanda is expected to host the unveiling of Formula One’s new V8 engine in 2030, according to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, adding a major technological milestone to the country’s ambitions to bring the sport back to Africa.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Formula One Africa Grand Prix announcement at BK Arena in Kigali, Ben Sulayem said the planned launch would coincide with Formula One’s introduction of the new engine, which he said would be lighter, less expensive to develop and designed to improve the sport’s appeal to fans.
“The beauty about 2030 is that we are working together that the launch of the new V8 will be in 2030. So Rwanda is going to have that engine in the first ever race,” he said.
Ben Sulayem outlined three objectives behind the proposed engine changes: reducing vehicle weight, lowering research and development costs, and improving the sound experience for spectators.
He said the cars would be approximately 80 kilogrammes lighter, while research and development expenditure on the engine would be reduced by at least 50%.
The focus on engine sound, he added, was intended to improve the fan experience rather than simply increase noise.
The announcement places Rwanda’s Formula One ambitions alongside a broader technological transition within the sport.
However, the precise technical specifications and implementation arrangements for the proposed V8 engine will be important to establishing how the changes fit into Formula One’s wider regulations and development plans.
Beyond hosting a race
Ben Sulayem said Rwanda’s involvement should not be limited to hosting a Grand Prix, arguing that the country and the wider continent should benefit from the knowledge, skills and industrial opportunities associated with motorsport.
He described the FIA as a knowledge-led federation and called for universities, training institutions and local professionals to be involved in preparing Rwanda for Formula One.
“Rwanda should not just import everything. You have the people,” he said, arguing that local capacity should be developed rather than relying entirely on expertise and equipment brought in from abroad.
He said discussions with Rwanda’s sports minister had included plans to prepare the country for Formula One through training and skills development.
The FIA president also pointed to opportunities to develop grassroots motorsport, including support for karting and the local construction of karts and cross-karts.
Such initiatives could help establish a domestic motorsport ecosystem, creating opportunities for young drivers, engineers, mechanics and manufacturers while building expertise that could extend beyond the Grand Prix itself.
Ben Sulayem stressed that the project should leave a lasting contribution to Rwandan society rather than becoming a temporary international spectacle.
“It’s not a circus that goes on for a week and disappears. It has to engrave something back to the Rwandan society,” he said.
A test of local industrial capacity
The proposed 2030 engine launch could give Rwanda international visibility in motorsport technology, but converting that visibility into domestic industrial benefits will require sustained investment in education, engineering and technical training.
Developing local expertise would also require clear plans identifying which components and services can realistically be produced in Rwanda, alongside partnerships with international manufacturers and technical institutions.
Ben Sulayem said the FIA would facilitate the initiative and expressed confidence in the vision of Rwanda’s leadership, adding that the intention was to establish a lasting African presence in Formula One.
For Rwanda, the proposed engine unveiling would represent more than a high-profile sporting occasion. Its long-term significance will depend on whether the country can use the opportunity to develop local skills, expand technical capabilities and create a motorsport industry that continues to operate beyond race week.
