Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) delivered a defining moment for autonomous technology as six fully driverless racecars competed in a world-first Grand Final at Yas Marina Circuit.
Germany’s TUM cemented its dominance by retaining the championship title, followed by TII Racing (UAE) in second place, and PoliMOVE (Italy) in third.
With 11 international teams battling for a $2.25 million prize pool and a Human vs AI showdown featuring former F1 star Daniil Kvyat, the event showcased just how the race, and the technology behind it, has advanced since Season 1.
Trophies and medals were presented to the winners by His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Vice-Chairman of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club and Chairman of the UAE Marine Sports Federation, and Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President and Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council.
From the moment the race began, TUM were under pressure from Unimore, who showcased their own record-setting pace to catch and overtake them for the lead in Turn 6 before the end of the second lap. Over the course of the next 10 laps, the teams behind the cars found speeds of over 250 km/h, with less than a second between them throughout.
At the half-way stage of the 20-lap race, the pair were within half a second of one another as they met the back of the pack. Going for the overtake on Constructor in sixth place, Unimore collided with the rear of the car mid corner, thus paving way for TUM’s victory. Unimore claimed the fastest lap award through the duration of the competition.
“A2RL shows what happens when bold ambition meets scientific discipline,” said Al Bannai. “It is more than a race, it is a test-bed accelerating the future of autonomous systems while building public trust in the technologies that will soon move through our cities, skies and industries.
“What unfolded on track reflects the power of global talent, rigorous research, and the UAE’s conviction that breakthroughs happen faster when you invite the world to innovate with you.”