Abu Dhabi will host a landmark moment in autonomous racing as six completely driverless cars compete side by side for the Season 2 title of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) on 15 November at Yas Marina Circuit. The Grand Final follows an 18-month season and a rigorous qualification process that saw 11 international teams vying for the top six spots. Reigning champions TUM secured pole position after a close Multi-Car Qualification sprint against Italy’s Unimore, setting the stage for a 20-lap showdown involving TUM, Unimore, Kinetiz, TII Racing, PoliMOVE and Constructor, representing Germany, Italy and the UAE.
H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs and Secretary-General of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) states, “At ATRC, we believe innovation must be proven in the real world, not just promised. A2RL is more than a race, it’s a global testbed for high-performance autonomy and reflects the UAE’s commitment to advancing AI, robotics and next-gen mobility responsibly.”
In pre-season tests, AI performance has demonstrated significant progress, with Unimore becoming the first team to beat a professional human driver’s benchmark lap time. On race day, TUM will face former Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat in a Human vs AI showcase, highlighting the narrowing gap between AI and human drivers. Teams that did not reach the final will participate in the Silver Race, providing an opportunity to test and refine their AI systems under competitive conditions.
Alongside the racing, A2RL will host a range of fan-focused and STEM initiatives, including the A2RL STEM Competition awards for 140 students across the Emirates using 1/18th-scale autonomous cars, a Supercar Parade by Group 63, and interactive activities in the Fan Zone. The Grand Final will be broadcast worldwide on 16 November at 3pm GST with an immersive VR experience offering live car data and real-time track access. The league is supported by SteerAI and partners including Du, AWS, Abu Dhabi Mobility, Wio, Castore, PACETEQ, Live in Five, Meccanica 42, Vislink, Abu Dhabi Gaming, Miral and the UAE Cybersecurity Council, reinforcing its role as a leading platform for autonomous technology and AI innovation.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
