With a week to go until the highly-anticipated return of the 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the buzz around its season opening night race in Diriyah has been supercharged with new additions to be unveiled in the Championship for the first time.
The Diriyah E-Prix, hosted around the historic desert surroundings of the UNESCO World Heritage site at At-Turaif, has delivered on-track thrills in each of its three previous race weekends. Last season saw Saudi Arabia host the only night race on the calendar for the first time with a double-header of evening races returning in 2022 on 28 and 29 January.
Changes for fans to expect this season includes qualifying, that will feature a first round of two groups with each driver able to make multiple attempts at fastest laps within their allocated time. The thrilling format maintains the possibility of any driver to start on pole, ensuring drama and unpredictability throughout. The top four fastest-lap drivers in each group will progress into head-to-head Duels on a knockout basis in quarter-finals and semi-finals. Pole-position will be decided in a final head-to-head Duel, with all grid positions based on either success in the head-to-head Duels, or lap times depending on which stage of Qualifying drivers reach.
As part of the new sporting regulations, Formula E races can now have additional race time of up to a maximum of 10 minutes added when incidents result in a Safety Car or Full Course Yellow neutralisations during the standard 45-minute + 1 Lap race.
Ex Formula 1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi (DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT) will join Dan Ticktum (NIO 333 Racing), and Oliver Askew (Avalanche Andretti Formula E) on the grid for the first time, as the three rookies will add to the twenty-two driver line – up racing for one coveted trophy.
The Diriyah E-Prix continue to be the perfect family day out where race fans and music aficionados can look forward to entertainment both on and off track with concerts returning across the weekend. On Friday 28 January, global music stars James Blunt, Craig David and Wyclef Jean will be performing their biggest hits. On Saturday 29 January Two Door Cinema Club and The Script will be making their debut in the Kingdom.
Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), Ministry of Sport, said: “Once again Diriyah is making sporting history with another ‘first’ and I’m so pleased Saudi Arabia has proudly opened this wonderful series. It’s a championship that aligns perfectly with our future vision and commitment to sustainability as a nation. We look forward to another thrilling season of racing, and we’re ready to welcome fans from all over the world”.
Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO, Diriyah Gate Development Authority said: “I am delighted to welcome Formula E back to Diriyah for its fourth year. The E-Prix is one of the most important highlights in our sporting events calendar and is the perfect opportunity to showcase Diriyah’s position as an urban pedestrian city of the future, anchored on its past as the birthplace of the Kingdom. We are also proud to share Formula E’s sustainability vision to accelerate change towards an electric future, raise awareness of sustainable practices and contribute to reducing global carbon emissions. We can’t wait to once again light up the night sky with this event and see the fans here in person next weekend.”
Tickets start from 150 SAR and are available at www.diriyah-eprix.com. With fans welcomed back to live motorsport in Diriyah in a safe way, grab a seat in the grandstands lining the circuit in the best action hotspots around the stunning surroundings of the UNESCO World Heritage site for entertainment both on and off – track.
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