Abu Dhabi’s A2RL Returns With £1.8m Prize and Global Reach
ASPIRE, the catalyst behind global challenges and competitions for Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has confirmed the return of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL). The 2025 edition will take place on 15 November at Yas Marina Circuit and feature a prize fund of USD 2.25 million, alongside the debut of a pioneering global virtual racing series.
Following its landmark launch in April 2024, which drew over 10,000 spectators and over one million online viewers worldwide, A2RL returns with broader ambition, expanded international reach, and a bold vision to advance autonomous mobility. The announcement came during the Make it in the Emirates Forum, underlining the UAE’s growing leadership in frontier technologies.
The Emirates Autonomous Vehicle (EAV 24), A2RL’s enhanced racecar, embodies a leap in engineering and AI capability. Designed and autonomised in the UAE, the EAV 24 builds on the proven Super Formula SF23 platform. It integrates upgraded compute systems, advanced sensors, and refined control logic tailored for high-speed autonomous racing. This innovation marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s journey towards leadership in robotics, AI, and high-performance mobility.
This year, elite teams from ten countries will compete, with France and Japan joining returning squads from the United States, Germany, China, Singapore, Italy, and the UAE. A2RL is the most advanced global competition for autonomous systems, closing the gap between digital simulation and real-world execution.
A core innovation for 2025 is A2RL SIM-Sprint, a global virtual racing series developed to accelerate AI training and algorithm refinement. This initiative provides a stable, repeatable environment where teams can rigorously test their autonomous systems across varied and challenging scenarios. SIM-Sprint proves particularly valuable for addressing edge cases—rare yet critical situations often missed during physical testing.
In the long term, A2RL plans to expand SIM-Sprint access to a broader community, including fans, indie developers, and emerging teams worldwide. A structured progression—from Sim Academy to Sim Pro and ultimately real-world qualification—will create new entry points into the league, helping cultivate the next wave of AI and autonomy talent.
H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs and Secretary General of ATRC, stated: “With A2RL, we’re not just testing autonomous technology, we’re accelerating its evolution in the most demanding conditions possible. It’s a showcase of engineering excellence, but more importantly, a platform for the future of mobility. From high-speed racing to real-world applications, we demonstrate what’s possible when nations invest in deep tech innovation and challenge the world to think faster, build smarter, and compete responsibly.”
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, remarked: “By combining the physical thrill of racing with the precision of virtual testing, we’re enabling the world’s best minds to push the boundaries of AI. This year’s expanded league reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to challenge-driven innovation, where real-world impact is engineered at speed and scale.”
At the centre of the race is the Dallara Super Formula SF23—A2RL’s core vehicle platform. Built using sustainable bio-composites and weighing just 690 kilograms, the SF23 is the fastest open-wheel race car in the world after Formula One, capable of reaching 300 km/h. It features drive-by-wire throttle control, advanced braking, and a custom autonomous stack that allows teams to adapt and perfect their AI systems for peak performance.
Through ASPIRE and the broader ATRC framework, A2RL continues to position Abu Dhabi as a global powerhouse in high-performance autonomy, reshaping how intelligent systems are built, validated, and scaled for the real world.
