Diriyah Formula.. the “clean energy” race takes place under floodlights

Today, the attention of motor racing enthusiasts is directed towards the historic city of Diriyah in Saudi Arabia. This is to follow up on the launch of the second leg of the ABB Formula E World Championship, which is being held in the Kingdom for the fifth time in a row.

Over two days, the second and third rounds will continue under the name (Core Diriyah E-Prix 2023), within the competitions of the ninth season of the championship, which is one of the activities of the Diriyah season 2022.

Part of the preparations for the teams participating in the race (Middle East)

22 competitors representing 11 teams, from different countries of the world, will participate in the Diriyah E-Prix 2023 race, which is hosted by the Ministry of Sports, in cooperation with the Saudi Federation of Motors and Motorcycles. The Kingdom’s interest in clean energy, and keeping pace with the future towards a sustainable environment, as the racetrack will rely on LED lighting, designed to reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

On this occasion, Prince Abdulaziz Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said in a press statement, “The Kingdom’s continued hosting of many diverse international sporting events is confirmation of the interest enjoyed by the sports sector by the leadership and unprecedented support of Crown Prince Muhammad.” Bin Salman for the sports sector, which granted us this great distinction in this field, and hosting such international events enhances the experiences of our sons and daughters in proving their ability to manage and organize all major sporting tournaments and events with all professionalism, which is what made our homeland the capital of the largest global sporting events.

The historic city of Diriyah is ready for the launch of the major sporting event (Asharq Al-Awsat)

He added: «There is no doubt that the Diriyah Formula E races always enjoy excitement and rivalry among the drivers, and this gives them great public and media follow-up at the local and global levels, and their residence in the jewel of the Kingdom (Diriyah) gives the race a different character. Because this region, dear to us, bears a great history and legacy that describes our beloved kingdom.

The first round of the ABB Formula E World Championship was held in Mexico, while the Kingdom, specifically Diriyah, will host the second and third rounds, with the race then moving to Hyderabad, India, in the fourth round next February, and next month. The same contestants will compete in Cape Town, the capital of South Africa, with the rounds then moving to Brazil, Germany, Monaco, Indonesia, the United States of America and Italy, with the United Kingdom being the last stop in the ABB Formula E season in the ninth edition.

A racing car undergoes a readiness test (Middle East)

Eleven teams represented by 22 competitors will compete in this edition of the ABB Formula E World Championship race, namely: the Jaguar TCS team represented by British Sam Bird, New Zealander Mitch Evans, and the Nissan Formula E team represented by the Frenchman. Sasha Venestraz and his compatriot Norman Natto, along with the ABT Cobra team led by Swiss Nico Muller and South African Kevin Dan Lind. The Avalanche Andretti Formula E team also includes German Andre Lottre and British Jack Dennis, while the team represents “Mahindra Racing” includes Brazilian Lucas de Grassi, British Oliver Rowland, and enters the “NEOM 333 Racing” team under the leadership of Brazilian Sergio City Camara, Briton and Dan Tectam.

The “Tag Heuer Formula E” team is looking for an advanced position in the “Cours Diriyah E Prix 2023” race, through its German drivers Pascal Wehrlein and the Portuguese Antonio Felix Da Costa, and the “NEOM McLaren Formula E” team aspires to win these two rounds, by Through its representatives, the British Jake Higgs and the German Rene Rast, the “DS Penske” team also hopes itself to get an advanced rank, when it enters the race through its Belgian drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and the French Jean-Eric Verne, while the Swiss “Masaratti MSG” team represents Eduardo Mortara, Germany’s Maximilian Gunther, Swiss Sebastian Yuemi and New Zealander Nick Cassidy defend the Invention Racing team.

The “Core Diriyah E-Prix 2023” is part of the Diriyah season, which brings together a number of entertainment events and artistic and musical events, while Diriyah will host the Formula E race for the third time as a “night” race, after its launch for the first time in 2021.

It is noteworthy that the previous edition of Formula E Diriyah 2022 hosted the first and second rounds of the eighth season, where Dutchman Nick de Vries, driver of the “Mercedes-Benz EQ” team, won the first round, while the second round was won by Swiss Eduardo Mortara, driver of the “Rocket Venturi Racing” team. -Monaco.

Jake Dennis, driver of the Avalanche Andretti Formula E team, leads the World Drivers’ Championship standings, after winning the first race in the third generation car in the Formula E championship, where he was able to dominate the Mexico City race, after he was able to excel in qualifying and start from the front row. The drivers first on the starting line. He was followed by driver Pascal Wehrlein; of the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, finishing second, 11 seconds ahead of third-place driver Lucas di Grassi in a Mahindra Racing car, in the first difficult race for the Anglo-Indian team.

Drivers Dennis Wehrlein were among 4 cars with a third-generation Porsche 99X Electric power unit in the top 7 cars on the line, providing the Avalanche Andretti and TAG Heuer Porsche teams with the opportunity to rise to the top of the teams’ championship.

As for the DS Penske team, which had high expectations at the start of the season, it unexpectedly finished in the middle of the standings, which many did not expect after the Maserati MSG Racing team, powered by a DS power unit, recorded the time Record during the week, and achieved the lead in 5 of the 7 times in the pre-season tests in Valencia, with Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne, the drivers of “DS Penske”, among the first 3 positions.

Vandoorne, the defending champion, also came out of the top 10 before the first round, and Vandoorne regained only 4 places to take a point with finishing 10th at the end of the race. Vergne started in the middle positions before making an overtaking mistake, finishing 12th.

Driver Jake Hughes of the “NEOM McLaren Formula E” team may be a rookie, but his remarkable performance in testing was supported by an outstanding result in the first race in Mexico City.

Hughes finished 5th, but was fighting for a podium the whole time. His team, formerly Mercedes EQ, can claim the biggest combined victories in Diriyah with season seven champion Nyck de Vries. British driver Hughes has the ability to continue his outstanding work in the second weekend in the Formula E championship.

In his comment, Antonio Felix da Costa, the sixth season champion of the “Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E” team, said: “I would love to race in Saudi Arabia, it is an amazing circuit. I was the first winner of it during the fifth season, and I have great memories of it. We do well every time we come here. Since the race is night, training and qualifying take place during the day, and then you run the race at night. Temperatures change, and sand is removed from the track surface. Thoughts also change as shadows change. It takes a little bit of adjustment and training on the eyes, but I like the different variations, and they definitely make for a better show for the crowd. It’s very cool to be racing here and it’s great to watch, especially at night.”

It is noteworthy that the Diriyah Circuit extends over a distance of 2.495 km on the outskirts of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and is located within the surrounding historical areas, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and includes 21 turns. Diriyah is a drivers’ favourite, as it is one of the most demanding circuits of the season to balance power management and direct power.

As part of the race events during the weekend, American singer and songwriter Miguel, DJ Martin Garrix, French Montana, and American singer John Legend will attend, in addition to Egyptian stars Mohamed Hamaki and Mahmoud El Esseily, and DJ Lush; To give the audience more suspense and entertainment in the after-race parties.