What happened: The purpose-built circuit sits in Bugesera, 25 miles south of Kigali beside the new international airport. Former driver Alex Wurz designed the layout to use elevation changes, with Tilke and DAR overseeing construction.

Why it matters: The African Grand Prix restores championship racing to Africa for the first time since South Africa in 1993, with F1 pointing to more than 100 million fans on the continent. President Paul Kagame tied the project to jobs, skills and tourism, while president Stefano Domenicali called it a landmark that puts the series on every inhabited continent. The deal draws scrutiny over Rwanda's sponsorship ties to Arsenal and Aston Villa.

What to watch: F1 has not set a calendar slot, with planners expected to avoid the March-to-May rain season. Track construction timeline and calendar confirmation are next.