Tickets on sale for Diriyah E-Prix double-header in the dark

Tickets on sale for Diriyah E-Prix double-header in the dark
Formula E, motorsports most competitive championship, returns to the streets of Diritah on Friday, Jan 26. (Supplied)
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Updated 25 January 2024
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Tickets on sale for Diriyah E-Prix double-header in the dark

Tickets on sale for Diriyah E-Prix double-header in the dark
  • Formula E returns to the streets later this month
  • Spectacular night races to feature exhilarating battles and world’s best drivers

DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA: Formula E has announced that tickets are still available for the 2024 Diriyah E-Prix, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship mainstay that returns with back-to-back evening races on Jan. 26-27.

The e-prix once again welcomes the world’s best drivers for rounds two and three of the championship.

The Diriyah E-Prix is a major fixture in the international Formula E and motorsport calendars. Having garnered increased attention, influence, and popularity, the event has become a powerful driving force for positive change, supporting the Saudi Ministry of Sport’s ambitions to grow sport at every level in the Kingdom.

With more people following and participating in motorsport than ever before in Saudi Arabia, the event is destined to present electrified entertainment for all while showcasing the population’s ever-increasing demand for all things motorsports.  




Besides on-track thrills and an unforgettable race experience, the Diriyah E-Prix offers a sensational mix of sport, music, and entertainment. (Supplied)

Carlo Boutagy, founder and CEO of the event’s promoter CBX, said: “We’re thrilled that the Diriyah E-Prix is returning for a sixth successive year and we can’t wait for the action to get underway.

“The year-long wait for world-class motorsport on the streets of Diriyah is almost over and this time around we can promise that the 2024 Diriyah E-Prix will be the biggest and best yet.

“Recent years have really shown the ever-growing appetite for motorsports and Formula E here in Saudi. With each edition comes more on-track excitement, more entertainment around the venue, and higher attendances featuring fans new and old. This makes for another incredible event in a few weeks’ time and everyone should purchase tickets before they sell out.”

Live from the Diriyah Street Circuit, visitors can expect exciting racing and exhilarating battles in the double-header in the dark. While illuminating the historic desert surroundings of the UNESCO World Heritage Site at At-Turaif, the event will provide the ultimate all-electric racing spectacle under the lights in Diriyah.

Besides on-track thrills and an unforgettable race experience, the Diriyah E-Prix offers a sensational mix of sport, music, and entertainment with Grammy-nominated American boy band Backstreet Boys headlining a lineup of artists including Egyptian rock band Cairokee, Dutch DJ Afrojack, American pop rock band OneRepublic, Nancy Ajram, and Swedish DJ and music producer Alesso.

Fans can obtain their seats through the FIA Formula E website where grandstand and general admission tickets are available from SR100.

Ahead of the races, which start at 8 p.m. on both days, ticket holders can enjoy a full day of entertainment for the whole family in the Allianz Fan Village, with racing simulators in the gaming arena, plus live music performances, street food, and much more.

The Diriyah E-Prix races are part of Saudi Arabia’s investment in sport, which aims to inspire people to enjoy active and healthy lives as part of the country’s Vision 2030 cultural transformation.

From its investments in grassroots infrastructure through to hosting international events — including motorsport, football, tennis, and boxing — the Ministry of Sport has helped inspire a 48 percent increase in weekly sports participation among the local population. The number of Saudi-based sports federations is also up from 32 in 2015 to 97.


McLaren’s Lando Norris wins Singapore Grand Prix to narrow F1 title race

McLaren’s Lando Norris wins Singapore Grand Prix to narrow F1 title race
Updated 22 September 2024
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McLaren’s Lando Norris wins Singapore Grand Prix to narrow F1 title race

McLaren’s Lando Norris wins Singapore Grand Prix to narrow F1 title race
  • Norris got away brilliantly from pole and was clear of Verstappen into the first bend

SINGAPORE: Formula One title contender Lando Norris led from pole to chequered flag to win the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, narrowing the gap to championship leader Max Verstappen, who was second.
It was the McLaren driver’s third career GP win and his first from pole at his sixth attempt.
Teammate Oscar Piastri was third to extend their lead over Red Bull in the constructors’ championship.
It was a remarkably incident-free run around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, the first in its 15-race history not to see a safety car deployed.
At the end of the 62 uninterrupted laps, Norris had reduced Verstappen’s title lead to 52 points with six races and three sprints to go.
Piastri’s third place, coupled with Sergio Perez only managing 10th in the second Red Bull, meant McLaren’s lead in the constructors’ championship was increased to 41 points.
Norris got away brilliantly from pole and was clear of Verstappen into the first bend as Lewis Hamilton, on softer tires, tried to put pressure on the Dutchman.
But the three-time world champion repelled the Englishman and all the cars completed the opening lap safely.
Norris soon opened up a gap of more than a second over Verstappen, importantly keeping the Englishman out of DRS range of his title rival.
Hamilton from third was the only front-runner to start on soft tires, but he paid a penalty for it after he had to pit early on lap 18.
The aim was clearly to go all the way to the end but after just five laps on the new rubber he complained on team radio: “I’m already struggling with this tyre.”
Norris was in a league of his own up front as he stretched his lead over Verstappen to 20 seconds by lap 26.
Despite a few late brushes with the unforgiving Singapore street circuit walls, the Englishman secured a dominant victory.
“It was an amazing race,” said Norris.
“A few too many close calls, I had a couple of close moments in the middle but it was well managed I think.
“I could push, we were flying the whole race. Still tough, I’m a bit out of breath, but a good one.”
Piastri started from fifth but a superior strategy enabled him to overhaul Hamilton and the second Mercedes of George Russell in the late stages.
“It was a good race, a good recovery from qualifying — it wasn’t my best afternoon yesterday,” said Piastri.
“Big thank you to the team as clearly the car was exceptional this weekend, and some great points.”
Verstappen’s only chance looked like a safety car that never came.
“My race was just by myself, do the best I could, manage my own race,” said the three-time world champion.
“On a weekend we knew we were going to struggle, P2 is a good achievement. But now we need to improve, and that’s what we’ll do.”
Hamilton on much older tires than the field was a sitting duck toward the end lost another place on lap 50 to the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc who had begun from ninth on the grid.
Leclerc finished ahead of Hamilton, with the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz in seventh.
Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg and Perez rounded out the top 10.


Team Abu Dhabi duo set for battle to decide world powerboating title race

Team Abu Dhabi duo set for battle to decide world powerboating title race
Updated 18 September 2024
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Team Abu Dhabi duo set for battle to decide world powerboating title race

Team Abu Dhabi duo set for battle to decide world powerboating title race
  • Rashed Al-Qemzi aims for place in record books as teammate Mansoor Al-Mansoori targets first F2 world crown

Vila Velha de Rodao, Portugal: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al-Qemzi and Mansoor Al-Mansoori are primed for a tense climax to the UIM F2 World Championship in Portugal this weekend, which could see either of them crowned world champion on Sunday.

Four-time champion and strong favorite Al-Qemzi goes into the final round of the championship at Vila Velha de Rodao holding a six-point lead over Lithuania’s Edgaras Riabko, who is four points ahead of Al-Mansoori in third position.

This means that second place in the Grand Prix of Portugal II would be enough to clinch the title for Al-Qemzi and take him into the record books as the first-ever five-time winner of the F2 crown.

However, a repeat of last weekend’s result, which saw Al-Mansoori win the penultimate round in Peso da Regua, would see him installed as world champion for the first time should Abu Dhabi teammate Al-Qemzi finish fourth for the second race in eight days.

While there is no question of team orders giving priority to either of them, the two Emirati drivers will be taking no unnecessary risks that could jeopardize the arrival of an 18th world title at the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club since Guido Cappellini became team manager nine years ago.

“We’re teammates and friends, but we both want to win the title, and we both know what we have to do,” said Al-Qemzi, who had already secured his fourth F2 triumph before rounding off last season with victory on the Tagus river in Vila Velha de Rodao.

“The team will make sure both boats are set up perfectly, as they are for every race. Then it’s up to us. It’s also up to us not to do anything that could hurt the team.”

Al-Mansoori’s first target is to aim for a second successive pole position on Saturday. “That can make a huge difference on Sunday, but it will be tough to qualify first, as it was last weekend, and all season,” he said.

“It’s the last race of the season and apart from the top three, all the other drivers will be fighting hard for a good start position. I want to get the best out of myself and my boat. I can’t do more than that.”

Riabko finished third last Sunday in Peso da Regua, where he won the penultimate round last season, and he will be aiming for a third career victory in Portugal in the hope that it will be enough to secure the world title.

While the top three battle it out for F2 glory, Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg, Britain’s Matthew Palfreyman and Frenchman Nelson Morin are among a cluster of drivers who could still have a big say in the championship decider.


Leading championship positions:

1. Rashed Al-Qemzi UAE 61 pts

2. Edgaras Riabko LTU 55

3. Mansoor Al-Mansoori UAE 51

4. Mathilda Wiberg SWE 44

5. Matthew Palfreyman GBR 44

6. Nelson Morin FRA 27


Jeddah set to host closing round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe

Jeddah set to host closing round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe
Updated 16 September 2024
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Jeddah set to host closing round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe

Jeddah set to host closing round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe
  • The global benchmark for GT3 racing is scheduled for Nov. 29-30

Jeddah: The Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS is set to stage the final round of the 2024 campaign at the world’s fastest street circuit, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The global benchmark for GT3 racing is scheduled for Nov. 29-30.

The new addition to the Saudi Motorsport Company 2024 calendar will feature participants competing in the GT World Challenge Europe in a thrilling 1,000 km contest. Simultaneously, participants in the GT4 European Series will also engage in their customary format, with two one-hour races on the same circuit.

The event is set to launch a new long-term partnership between Saudi Arabia and SRO Motorsports Group, which will likely expand over the coming seasons.

Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Motorsport Company and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, said: “The arrival of two more exhilarating world-class racing series in Saudi Arabia from 2024 confirms the scale of the Kingdom’s transformation into the new hotbed of motorsport in the region. In doing so, we continue to accelerate the pace of progress we see through hosting these major events. We look forward to working with SRO Motorsports and continuing to provide more opportunities to enrich the lives of all our residents.”

The Saudi Motorsport Company on Monday officially launched ticket sales for the Jeddah GT Race 2024, set to take place in Jeddah.

The Jeddah GT Race 2024 has a variety of ticket options, including GT general admission, general child admission, and VIP tickets, available as single-day or two-day passes. Early-bird tickets offer discounts for a limited time.


Al-Mansoori grabs pole position as powerboat title race takes twist in Portugal

Al-Mansoori grabs pole position as powerboat title race takes twist in Portugal
Updated 15 September 2024
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Al-Mansoori grabs pole position as powerboat title race takes twist in Portugal

Al-Mansoori grabs pole position as powerboat title race takes twist in Portugal
  • Team Abu Dhabi star grabs the honors as world champion Al-Qemzi finds the going tougher

Peso da Regua, Portugal: Team Abu Dhabi’s Mansoor Al-Mansoori upstaged teammate and hot favorite Rashed Al-Qemzi to secure pole position in Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portugal, the penultimate round of the UIM F2 World Championship.

After four-time champion Al-Qemzi surprisingly missed out on a place in the six-boat qualifying shootout, Al-Mansoori underlined his growing championship challenge with a superb performance to take the honors in Peso da Regua.

There was late qualifying drama when Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg, who trails Al-Qemzi by eight points in the F2 title race, crashed spectacularly, leaving her mechanics with a big repair job to carry out before she starts in fifth place tomorrow.

Lithuania’s Edgaras Riabko, who qualified in third position, is just one point further away in what now promises to be an exhilarating climax to the season in Portugal over the next eight days.

This has been one of the most closely contested seasons in the championship’s 30-year history, and the intensity was evident even in today’s official practice session for the 16 starters.

Wiberg edged out Al-Qemzi by five-thousandths of a second, with Al-Mansoori another fraction away in third and less than a second separating the top seven.

That set the stage for a fascinating qualifying session that saw Q1 and Q2 being combined into a single 40-minute battle to qualify for the six-boat Q3 shootout.

While Al-Mansoori was fastest just past the halfway point, Al-Qemzi was down in eighth spot and went into the pits to allow the Team Abu Dhabi mechanics to fit a new propeller.

Almost immediately, Riabko squeezed his way to the top of the standings, only for Palfreyman to quickly take the initiative before Al-Mansoori set another fastest time as the drama continued.

It was not to be this time for Al-Qemzi, who was unable to improve and will start in eighth place tomorrow, with the world championship hanging in the balance.

Leading championship standings

1 1 Rashed Al-Qemzi UAE 52pts

2 7 Mathilda Wiberg SWE 44

3 41 Edgaras Riabko LTU 43

4 36 Mansoor Al-Mansoori UAE 31

5 14 Matthew Palfreyman GBR 29

6 33 Nelson Morin FRA 24

7 45 Duarte Benavente POR 16

8 74 Giacomo Sacchi MON 12

9 91 David del Pin ITA 12

10 9 Mette Bjerknæs GBR 11


Ferrari’s Charle Leclerc claims fourth straight pole in Baku

Ferrari’s Charle Leclerc claims fourth straight pole in Baku
Updated 14 September 2024
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Ferrari’s Charle Leclerc claims fourth straight pole in Baku

Ferrari’s Charle Leclerc claims fourth straight pole in Baku
  • Title challenger Lando Norris of McLaren qualified only 17th
  • Max Verstappen was sixth in the second Red Bull as his recent struggles continued

BAKU: Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured pole for the fourth consecutive year at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
As title challenger Lando Norris of McLaren qualified only 17th, the Monegasque driver, who won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in his last outing, continued his supreme single lap form to wind up three-tenths of a second ahead of Piastri.
It was the 26th pole of his career at a track where he has yet to win.
Carlos Sainz was third in the second Ferrari and Sergio Perez fourth for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.
Three-time world champion and series leader Max Verstappen was sixth in the second Red Bull as his recent struggles continued.
Verstappen leads Norris by 62 points in the title race with eight races of the season remaining.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh for Mercedes ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Argentine new boy Franco Colapinto of Williams and his team-mate Alex Albon.
“It’s one of my favorite tracks of the season,” said Leclerc.
“It hasn’t been an easy weekend for me with the crash in first practice and then a problem in second practice with a new part.
“I wasnt worried, but the pace was already there and in my last lap I went for it a bit more. It is amazing to be on pole again!“
The session began in slanting sunshine across the old city by the Caspian Sea, the Mercedes duo quick to enter the fray on medium tires for two exploratory laps of the slippery street track.
As the conditions improved, Leclerc produced a lap in 1:42.775 to go top while Mercedes switched to softs, Russell swiftly jumping to second and Hamilton to fourth.
But in a final scrabble for places, as Piastri went third behind Leclerc and Albon, Norris pitted and missed the cut, eliminated in 17th place ahead of only the Saubers and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. RB’s Daniel Ricciardo was also out.
It was Norris’s first Q1 elimination since the Las Vegas race last year (2023).
“The lap was good enough, but it was a yellow flag so I had to back off,” said Norris.
Q2 saw Verstappen on top ahead of Leclerc with Perez and Sainz third and fourth.
After a final flurry, Alonso rose to fifth and Colapinto to sixth while Albon hung on to 10th to push Bearman out in 11th along with RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Nico Hulkenberg of Haas and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
The top-ten shootout began with Leclerc, in 1:46.610, on top ahead of Sainz after an early lap by Russell.
As the final laps began, Albon left the pits with an airbox fan still attached to his Williams car. He pulled it off and threw it to a marshal.
This bizarre incident did not distract Ferrari or Leclerc, however, as he reeled off 1:43.365 to grab his fourth consecutive Baku pole.