If you are feeling post-race blues after the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix finished, do not fear. You don’t have to wait long until the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship rides into town on January 28-29, 2022 at Diriyah E-Prix.
The single-seat motorsport championship for electric cars is the only sport with certified net-zero carbon emissions since its inception. The championships return to the historic desert site at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Diriyah. The race takes place across a 2.495 km length circuit and features 21 turns.
Alberto Longo, one of the founders and also the chief championship officer at Formula E, says: “The idea was born in 2010. We used to be involved in Formula 1 in GP2 and GP3 then and now Formula 1 and Formula 2. One of our goals was to bring sponsors into the motorsports world.
“Whenever we would have a potential meeting with a new sponsor, we would always say we cannot sponsor Formula 1 and 2, as it’s not sustainable enough. So we said there’s a hole and we need to cover it somehow, we need to come up with a championship that checks the boxes of sustainability. So we came up with the idea and sat together and said let’s come up with a fully electric championship and put it forward to the world.”
Out of that idea, ABB FIA Formula E World Championship was born. The championship is just about to enter the start of its eight-season.
Sam Bird, a British professional racer that has won a race at the Diriyah E-Prix twice, says, “The Diriyah E-Prix track boasts one of the most challenging sectors of circuits that we go on. From turn six to turn 15, you’re never in a straight line, you’re constantly turning, and it’s all quite high speed for Formula E cars. I certainly enjoy driving it and pushing the car to the boundaries.”
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship fits in with Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman’s new green initiative to cut Saudi Arabia’s carbon emissions to net-zero by 2060.
During the night race in Diriyah, the track will be lit up with LED lights. While the fuel used to generate the power is 50 percent more sustainable. Get your seatbelts on Riyadh, as it’s going to be one exciting ride.
January 28-29. diriyah-eprix.com/en/
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