JEDDAH: A high-speed weekend on the Jeddah Corniche began the countdown to the start flag dropping for the ‘Saudia’ Ad Diriyah E-Prix in three weeks’ time.
The ‘Road to Ad Diriyah’ was an event full of motorsport magic, which gave thousands a taste of racing, live music and culture due to hit Ad Diriyah on the outskirts of Riyadh next month.
The first of ten annual races, the ‘Saudia’ Ad Diriyah E-Prix will kick off the fifth season of ABB FIA Formula E, and at the weekend people flocked to the Jeddah roadshow event to secure their tickets, and try professional racing simulators and see the new, faster Gen2 Formula E race car.
Mohammed Karkashan and wife Halla Tajaldeen were getting the feel for Formula E with daughter Lana and Leen Hedery.
“It is fantastic that Formula E is right here in Jedda and I think the race in Ad Diriyah will be a great experience. It is cool that Formula E is coming to the Middle East”, he said.
At the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ad Diriyah, the track is taking shape, preparing for electric racing machines to blitz through 21 turns and bends.
Music stages will host six global acts and cultural and entertainment zones will allow all to experience modern and contemporary artistry. Tickets are already on sale from only SAR 395, and more information can be found here.
At the Jeddah event, hopefuls also tried their hand at racing in the qualifying for the ‘ABB FIA Formula E Road to Ad Diryah’ eSports championship. Osama Omar Alkaseeh was very happy with his qualifying race laps and thought they might just be good enough to make him one of the finalists invited to Ad Diriyah to battle it out live at the ABB FIA Formula E-Prix.
Osama Omar Alkaseeh tries his hand at qualifying for the ‘ABB FIA Formula E Road to Ad Diryah’ eSports championship. (General Sports Authority)
“This is so fun. Saudis love cars and motorsport, and we are addicted to racing, so this is a perfect game for Saudi. I think everyone should try it.” Osama said.
For more information about ‘Saudia’ Ad Diriyah E-Prix including schedule and tickets, click here
