This weekend, Season 7 of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will light up Saudi Arabia and make history as the all-electric Formula E championship hosts it’s first ever night races, with round 1 and 2 taking place in Diriyah on Friday, 26th – Saturday 27th February at 8pm KSA.
Diriyah, the ancient UNESCO heritage site on the outskirts of Riyadh, was the first seat of power for Saudi’s Kings, and will continue it’s reputation in a long line of historic and modern day firsts. In 2018 the stunning site hosted the first all-electric race in the Middle East and welcomed international sports tourists for the first time. In 2019 Diriyah once again captured headlines as the iconic venue proudly hosted the opening weekend of Season 6, featuring a double-header and back to back races for the first time. And now Season 7 will is poised for another first under the bright lights and in the spotlight of global sporting attention.
To update fans and Formula E enthusiasts in Saudi and around the world on the status of the preparations, a virtual press conference was held hosting HRH Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, Jamie Reigle, CEO of Formula E, and Carlo Boutagy, Founder and CEO of CBX, the official race promoter. The online conference was moderated by Nikki Shields, a very well-known advocate in the conversion to hybrid and fully electric vehicles.
Speaking at the press conference, HRH Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation said: “Formula E is back to Diriyah as the opening race of season 7, and to mark a world first, as the first ever night race in the history of Formula E. On February 26 and 27, the whole world will yet again watch the Kingdom host a global sporting spectacle, under the guidance and support of our government, one that followed every detail and offered all the leadership and support needed to ensure all logistical and health measures are applied at the highest global standards, despite the ongoing challenge that the world is facing due to COVID-19, and its huge impact on the sport industry.”
“Hosting the race at night and utilizing the best available technology to ensure its success is a clear evidence that our leadership gives sport the utmost priority and shows the close connection between sports and the sustainable future which will be headlined by clean renewable energy. It will be a historic race”, added Al Faisal.
Always focused on innovative, sustainable solutions, Formula E will light the track with low consumption LED technology powered by fully renewable energy. Lighting the track with the latest low consumption LED technology will reduce energy consumption by up to fifty per cent compared to non-LED technologies. The remaining energy needed to power the floodlighting will be fully renewable provided by high performing low-carbon certified hydrogenated vegetable oil made from sustainable materials.
This was the main focus of Formula E’s CEO, Jamie Reigle, who said: “ We are looking forward to the start of season 7, and what a way to start with the first ever night race! We had our priorities set on ensuring a safe race with all COVID-19 guidelines in place, but also focused on how we can make this year’s races even better with the high bar that the previous Diriyah E-Prix races have set. Of course our utmost priority is always about sustainability and ensuring that the future of car racing is environmentally friendly. The sustainable night lights will ensure breathtaking scenes to everyone watching at home and a new exciting experience to the teams and drivers. Our partnership and close planning with the Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation was brilliant, and I would like to thank them for all the support to bringing the race to life this year.”
Carlo Boutagy, Founder and CEO of CBX, the official race promoter, said: “Being on the ground as the Diriyah Circuit gets ready to host the first ever night race, is an amazing experience. Diriyah looks beautiful as always, the night lights are in place, the safety measures are all set and working. We can’t wait to go green in Diriyah this Friday to organize a spectacle unlike any other. We will surely miss the fans, but their safety comes first, so we made sure they enjoy an unmissable experience while watching the races live on KSA Sports this weekend.”
The conference saw a welcoming message from the CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority, Jerry Inzerillo, who welcomed the world to Diriyah and highlighted the importance of sporting events and the positivity and energy they bring when the world is combating the pandemic. “We are looking forward to our third Diriyah E-Prix race, and for the first time at night, which is historic! Our gratitude goes to the wise leadership in Saudi who took all the necessary measures to keep us safe during these challenging times, and also to His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal – the Minister of Sport, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal – Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation,for their leadership, and Formula E, for all the efforts to make this race happen. We can’t wait for the world to watch this amazing spectacle and witness the amazing developments that Diriyah has gone through. Only one Diriyah – year three, we are ready to amaze the world again.”
With a founding purpose to counteract climate change, Formula E’s commitment to deliver better futures through racing drives its ongoing environmental, economic and social sustainability initiatives around the world. Saudi Arabia is the perfect partner on this mission, as it embraces its own sustainability journey towards a modern, inclusive Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030.
The Diriyah E-Prix will be broadcasted live on KSA Sports Channel at 17:00 GMT (20:00 local time) on February 26 and 27 and available to stream live on the KSA Sports YouTube channel and Twitter page. It will be the first two rounds of season 7 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. 24 drivers representing 12 teams will battle it out under the lights to have their names as the first winners of the first ever night race in the history of Formula E.
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