Record-breaking Qualifiers Set Up A2Rl Grand Final in Abu Dhabi
Qualification for the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) concluded with a thrilling pole position for reigning champions TUM. The German team led a field of six through a demanding multi-stage qualification into the Grand Final on 15 November.
A2RL showcases cutting-edge autonomous technology and accelerates AI development through competition in extreme conditions. Eleven international teams travelled to Abu Dhabi to qualify for the second season of the world’s most advanced autonomous racing championship at Yas Marina Circuit.
Organisers designed the competition to push artificial intelligence to its physical limits as leading minds from universities, private companies, and privateer race teams competed on the world stage for a US$2.25 million prize pool.
Teams advanced driverless technology throughout an intensive week that produced history. They began setting consistent sub-1-minute lap times on the North Circuit configuration at Yas Marina. Italy’s Unimore team, a returning finalist, set an autonomous lap record of 58.87 seconds, seven hundredths quicker than the benchmark lap set by a professional human racing driver during data collection laps at 59.20 seconds.
Pace Qualification delivered the record-setting lap as all teams completed three separate 15-minute sessions to set their fastest times. Multi-Car Qualification followed, with four heats of twelve laps. Highlights included a decisive overtake by TUM on Unimore, which secured pole position in their pursuit of back-to-back wins in autonomous racing.
Six teams - TUM, Unimore, Kinetiz, TII Racing, PoliMOVE, and Constructor - qualified for the Grand Final on 15 November 2025 at Yas Marina Circuit. Representing four countries, they will contest a 24-lap, multi-car race —the largest of its kind and a spectacle like no other. The event will also feature a Silver Race time trial for the remaining five A2RL teams, ensuring that fans of autonomous motorsport get to see the whole grid in action.
This year, former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat returns for the second instalment of the Human vs AI showcase, a demonstration of machine precision versus human instinct and the rapid evolution of AI performance.
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, commented: “This season, we’re pushing the boundaries of autonomous racing even further and redefining what is possible. From week to week, we are seeing ‘machine’ capabilities rapidly approaching human performance—sometimes even surpassing human benchmark times set during data collection. This week, Unimore has thrown down the gauntlet with a record-breaking lap time.
“Next month, we will witness six formidably competitive teams race for victory. Last year’s A2RL Champion TUM is in pole position, but given the intense competition during qualification, the Grand Final in November is set to be an exhilarating conclusion!”
Ayoub Raji, Co-Lead of Unimore Racing, said: “We are proud to have demonstrated that an autonomous race car can deliver close to human capabilities. The competition was fierce, with many teams bringing extensive experience and strong technical resources. Our autonomous stack proved not only to be the fastest but also the safest, skillfully exploiting the kerbs to avoid a collision during TUM’s overtake. We can’t wait to be back on track for the Grand Final on 15 November, pushing our software to the absolute limit in pursuit of first place. “
The 2025 A2RL race will headline the first-ever Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (ADAW). This new six-day event brings together researchers and industry experts through high-profile summits, exhibitions, and other events. ADAW includes the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, DRIFTx Exhibition, and RoboCup Asia-Pacific, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s leadership in robotics, AI, and autonomous vehicles.
A2RL was conceptualised under the vision and direction of H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President and Secretary General of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). ASPIRE, part of ATRC and responsible for technological “Grand Challenges”, organises and drives the programme, advancing breakthrough research, fostering global collaborations, and translating high-impact technologies into real-world applications.
