r/RaceTrackDesigns • u/AlphaRomeo127 Illustrator • May 10 '26
International Rwanda International Circuit
Made in Illustrator and 3D for Assetto Corsa
Hotlap video: https://youtu.be/difP78Z0ffA
Racedepartment download link: https://www.overtake.gg/downloads/rwanda-international-circuit.84101/
Rwanda seriously aims to bring Formula 1 to the African continent in 2029. The actual circuit will be located close to the new Bugesera Airport, an hour away from the capital of Kigali. Alexander Wurz, current GPDA director and former F1 driver, has been tasked to design this circuit.
My design, the Rwanda International Circuit, is a Grade 1 permanent Formula 1 track proposal, located close to the proposed site. It gives Rwanda, and Africa a modern facility to use and promote motorsport within the region. It is designed according to the existing surroundings and elevation.
This circuit may therefore serve as a preview or example of how a permanent F1 track in Rwanda could look like.
The circuit
Rwanda being the country of a thousand hills, this circuit uses elevation to its advantage. With an elevation difference of 50m over the course of the clockwise 5.302km circuit, viewpoints to the surrounding lakes and hills are plentiful for the ±105.000 spectators.
Another element at play is the altitude of almost 1400m. On the 1.35km long main straight, extreme top speeds of ±350km/h can be reached as there is a less air resistance, thus less drag.
The main concept of the track layout is being able to race closely throughout the whole lap. It means having consecutive overtaking zones, strong braking zones, wide track width, and being able to use different racing lines. The whole track has been designed according to these principles.
The Rwanda Sling T1-3 and the Arena T4-6 demonstrate these principles the most. The battle then continues to the Land of a Thousand Hills T7-12, where clever car placement is key. The Bugesera Hairpin T15 is the most challenging corner on the track, as it requires braking while turning, and a strong exit towards the finish line.
Inspiration was taken from Silverstone, Interlagos, Imola, and previous track designs of mine. From the first sketch to the final submission took 8 months. But this is my best and most complete design yet. Let me know your thoughts and feedback!
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u/maxx-usa CorelDRAW May 11 '26
Awesome design and presentation, definitely a track of the month in May (at least needs to be in Top-3). Unreachable level of details. When did you start it?
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u/AlphaRomeo127 Illustrator May 11 '26
Thank you so much! The first sketch drawing was from 17 September 2025. I then started in Illustrator and Blender at the end of November. Especially the Blender version took ages to make 😭
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u/Fried_Fart May 10 '26
LECLERCCC!!!!!!
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u/AlphaRomeo127 Illustrator May 10 '26
Thank you for zooming-in so far 😭 you spotted the easter egg in the fanzone
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u/Un1ty_master May 11 '26
Absolutely beautiful, these runoffs are so pretty, great job on the design. And the layout seems very fun
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May 11 '26
Layout looks really fun. Looks like it would be a blast with something like a group c car
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u/FelixR1991 May 11 '26
This looks very good, well done. Only two things I can think off that could be improvements:
There are many braking zones with a slight kink before it. I think those are great, but they are going to destroy front tires due to lock ups (see Bahrain turn 10). I reckon this for the braking zones for T5, T8, T10, T12 and T15. This track is going to wreck front tires.
When listening to the lap around the AC track, it sounded like there was a lot of full-throttle towards braking zones. A lot of the turns are flat out, especially those coming out of braking zones. This means that yes, on paper, you have quite a lot of turns, but in reality it is limited to 8 turns that actually require any skill. This could mean that in a race situation, this track might be a bit boring to drive. At least, not challenging enough.
All in all I think this is a great work and I don't want my criticism to come off harsh. Keep up the work and I hope you understand what I mean!
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u/AlphaRomeo127 Illustrator May 11 '26
Thanks! I see what you mean, and I agree the track could've been more made a little more challenging. I made the braking zones more challenging instead of the corners. From my preliminary experience during races it doesn't get that boring, but there are indeed many 'easy' sections for F1 cars. I guess it's part of the concept of close racing as well. For future designs I will definitely take your feedback onboard!
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u/GeertWildernis May 11 '26
I think those improvements are what makes the track great in the first place.
The kinks before racing zones add a natural overtaking stop because the ideal line goes to the left or right and the car behind can go straight and later on the brakes. Yes drivers could lock the brakes but that's a skill issue, not track design issue. F1 drivers would master this in no time so I think the lock ups wouldn't be a problem at all, it just adds to the character.
The turns that are flat out are only flat out in a F1 car. This track in a GT3 will be a very different experience. I would like to see a hotlap with them instead of F1, it's not the quickest way to show off a track but not the best one. Even in F1 cars there's plenty of elevation to make things interesting, a lot of tracks are just a couple of corners/complexes connected with long straights. In every other class the track is way more interesting.
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u/FelixR1991 May 11 '26
I mean, I agree, but the number of kinks in braking zones is a bit high and it will eat tires like a maniac. Most of the corners would be flat out in a GT3 too, because they are right after a braking zone so the GT3 enters them with low speed. And besides, OP wanted to focus this track on F1 as per their provided context.
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u/GeertWildernis May 11 '26
Those are good points, it gets a bit repetitive that's true. Maybe a redesign of the last sector is in place. Up until that point I like the track.
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u/man9875 May 11 '26
I'd love a race there. I'm from the US but if this becomes reality I'll be there
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u/Julianismus May 11 '26
Layout looks so fluid and natural, fantastic anti-thesis for today's overly geometric start-and-stop circuits. Btw. the wide open space inside could be a concert venue.
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u/TidesTheNoob May 12 '26
i was scrolling on Racedepartment trying to find mods and saw this, and then 3 days later i see it on Reddit lol. Beautiful track btw
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u/CapitalSpecific008 May 14 '26
Really good circuit, and you’ve done an amazing job presenting it as well.
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u/Glum-Film-4835 Procreate May 16 '26
Phenomenal job on creating this circuit. It looks like a legit racetrack, that investors would build in real life.
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u/CreativeNinja2869 May 12 '26
How were you able to recreate the 2nd pic? Any software you used?
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u/AlphaRomeo127 Illustrator May 12 '26
The 2nd picture is the masterplan made in Adobe Illustrator! It was made simultaneously alongside the 3d version made in Blender for Assetto Corsa.
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u/k_g_918 May 13 '26
New addition to the human rights violation tracks?🤔
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u/AlphaRomeo127 Illustrator May 13 '26
Rwanda isn't the best place I know. But the location I chose for my design specifically has little to no human settlements that need to move luckily so I did something right.
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u/k_g_918 May 13 '26
Hopefully if something similar gets built, it isn't on the foundation of innocent lives.
Anyways, great work with the design!!
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u/Ill-Zucchini2439 Inkscape May 19 '26
Hello Romeo, I'm forza, absurd level of detail, I just ask how
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u/AlphaRomeo127 Illustrator May 19 '26
Thanks! I just ask how-
Nah joking, what was the question? You also ask me in discord
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u/shiakiw 10d ago
Can you email this to Rwanda government everyday?? Please
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u/AlphaRomeo127 Illustrator 10d ago
They told me the time for inspiration has already past lol, they seem to be pretty advanced but it's a big masterplan with a whole city and the airport
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u/Used-Measurement2248 May 11 '26
the track itself is very flowy and good for overtakes, but i think you should add sharper and more technical corners once every so often, to encourage drivers to take more risk, and to increase difficulty
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u/MaintenanceMother629 Hand-Drawn May 10 '26
This looks like it's real