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NEIGHBOURING Saudi Arabia ‘is ready for action’ – on and off the track – as it counts down to the biggest festival of racing, music, entertainment and culture ever staged in the country, with just one week to go before the three days of Formula E fun gets underway.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the extravaganza, with fan zones, entertainment and cultural attractions, plus dining and retail experiences, awaiting Formula E ticketholders at Ad Diriyah, the UNESCO Heritage Site on the outskirts of the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
Enrique Iglesias and Jason Derulo will kick off the first of three nights of music concerts tomorrow, with Arab music legend Amr Diab and globally-renowned pop band Black Eyed Peas following tomorrow. US pop band OneRepublic and superstar DJ/producer David Guetta will bring the event to an electrifying finale after the race on Saturday.
His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, vice-chair of the Saudi Arabia General Sports Authority, said: “Formula E in Saudi Arabia feels very real today. The world’s most modern motor sport will thrill crowds here in the heart of Saudi Arabia at this stunning UNESCO heritage site which honours the kingdom’s past.
“That is amazing in itself but take a look at what has been created off the track, the ambition of this partnership to bring the event to life is nothing short of inspiring. Remember, this isn’t just a single race, this is the biggest festival of sport and entertainment we’ve ever seen, including six huge global acts performing here for the very first time.”
The track is 2,495m long, comprising of 21 turns, with the existing road network upgraded to meet the demanding Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) standards to allow Formula E racing to take place safely.
The all-electric series will take place in some of the most iconic and eye-catching cities in the world - from Marrakesh to Paris - with the July season finale a double header in New York.
Compared to some of its sporting cousins, Formula E is considerably friendlier to the environment. It was developed with sustainability in mind, and it does this by powering its cars with a battery that uses 100 per cent renewable fuel, and tyres that – as well as lasting an entire race – can also be recycled afterwards. Meanwhile, spectators are encouraged to use public transport to travel to events, with no public parking available.
One drawback with battery-powered cars is they have not had the capacity to last an entire race, resulting in the rather unusual sight of drivers having to swap cars mid-race.
That will no longer happen – this season’s Gen2 car is fitted with a battery that will last from start to finish.
With the car-manufacturing world looking to switch to developing almost exclusively electric cars within the next couple of decades, Formula E provides them with the ideal arena to develop and test new technology at a competitive level.
This will be the fifth season of Formula E, and promises to be the most exciting and interesting so far, with some big names among the 11 teams and 22 drivers.
Perhaps the most significant addition to the line-up for this season is Felipe Massa, twice-winner of the Gulf Air Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.
The former Ferrari and Williams driver retired from F1 last year and will this season race for Venturi in the all-electric series. The Brazilian will be reunited with former Williams reserve driver Susie Wolff, the first female team principal in Formula E.
Stoffel Vandoorne – Fernando Alonso’s team-mate at McLaren for the past two seasons – has also made the switch to Formula E and will race for HWA Racelab.
Among the other competitors are Sebastien Buemi, a former Bahrain resident and the 2015-16 champion, and former Toro Rosso driver Jean-Eric Vergne, who is the reigning champion.
There will also be a strong British representation with Sam Bird, Gary Paffett, Oliver Turvey, Oliver Rowland and Alexander Sims all on the grid.
Among the manufacturers taking part are BMW, Audi, Jaguar and Nissan, while Mercedes, who have dominated F1 for the past five years, will enter Formula E in the 2019-20 season.
As for the Saudi opener, the Ad Diriyah Formula E site will have huge stands that will accommodate tens of thousands of fans on the race day, the concert arena for the three nights, an E Village entertainment area, plus cultural and heritage zones for families.
There will be laser shows, virtual reality rides, augmented reality experiences, traditional musicians, storytelling, oud, Qanoun and Rababa players, silversmiths and carpentry displays and workshops, photo exhibitions, in addition to traditional camel rides. There will also be a time-capsule tunnel transporting people back through time to highlight the kingdom’s journey through the ages.
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Faisal Al Saud, President of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, said: “Saudi Arabia is on a journey towards sustainability and Formula E’s message of renewable energy and working to minimise its environmental footprint is inspiring and important.
“That’s why, in keeping with other Formula E races around the world, we’ll be encouraging ticket holders to take advantage of a ‘Park & Ride’ system. Cars trying to get to Ad Diriyah without specific access will not have access and will be directed to use the public Park & Ride. So, relax, leave the car at home, and leave the driving to us.”
Tickets can be obtained from https://fiaformulae.com/Ad-Diriyah
