2025 Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
The 2025 season of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League began in 11 April 2025 in Abu Dhabi. This year marks the first multi-format season of the A2RL, racing both drones and self-driving cars. The venue of choice for the Car Race, set for 15 November 2025, is the Yas Marina Circuit, same as the previous year, while the Drone Race was held at the ADNEC Marina Hall.[1][2][3][4][5]
Background
Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
The A2RL is an autonomous racing championship based in Abu Dhabi and organized by ASPIRE, part of the Advanced Technology Research Council. It is one of two active autonomous car racing championships, the second being the US-based Indy Autonomous Challenge.Unlike the IAC, which primarily focuses on time trials and simulated races, the A2RL's car races are closer to a standard grand prix formula race format. Both use Dallara-supplied racecars; the IAC uses the AV-24 chassis derived from Indy NXT's IL-15, while the A2RL chassis is designated EAV-24 and is derived from the SF-23 chassis used in Japanese Super Formula races.[5][6]
Entrants
As of May 2025, the following teams have been confirmed to be part of the A2RL:[7][8][9]
| Team name | 2024 time trial (qualifying) | 2024 result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical University of Munich | P3 | P1 | 2024 Champion |
| PoliMOVE | P1 | DNF | 2024 Pole-sitter |
| UNIMORE Racing | P2 | DNF | 2024 Fastest Lap |
| Constructor University | P4 | P2 | |
| HUMDA Lab | P5 | DNQ | |
| Code19 Racing | P6 | DNQ | |
| Fly Eagle | P7 | DNQ | |
| Kinetiz | P8 | DNQ | Failed to set a qualifying time in 2024 |
| TGM Grand Prix/SEVRUS Japan | N/A | N/A | Rookie team |
| FR4IAV/Aladin Innovation | N/A | N/A | Rookie team |
| TII Racing | N/A | N/A | Rookie team; partner team |
| AiPEX Racing | N/A | N/A | Rookie team (disputed)[note 1] |
| AI Team Name | DCL Team Name |
|---|---|
| Cyclone Lab | Cyclone Drone Racing |
| Starling | Raiden Racing |
| Code19 Racing | Spain Drone Team |
| FLYBY | |
| Fly Eagle | |
| KAIST | |
| Fly for Future | |
| CVAR-UPM | |
| Kinetiz | |
| Code19 Racing | |
| MAVLAB |
Drone race
| 2025 Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race details | |||
| Date | 12 April 2025 | ||
| Official name | 2025 A2RL Autonomous drone race | ||
| Location | ADNEC Marina Hall, Abu Dhabi, UAE | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | MAVLAB | ||
| Second | TII Racing | ||
| Third | KAIST | ||
Qualifying
Qualifying took place over an unspecified period of time ending on March 2025. 14 teams qualified.[12][13]
Final podiums
| Position | AI Grand Challenge | AI vs Human Challenge | Multi-drone race | Autonomous drag race |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MAVLAB | MAVLAB | TII Racing | MAVLAB |
| 2 | TII Racing | Yuki Hashimoto (Raiden) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| 3 | KAIST | Platon Cheremnykh (SDT) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
Car race
| 2025 Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race details | |||
| Date | 15 November 2025 | ||
| Official name | 2025 A2RL Autonomous car race | ||
| Location | Yas Marina circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.281 km (3.281 miles) | ||
| Scheduled distance | 8 laps, Approx. 42.248 km (26.248 miles) | ||
The main event is scheduled for 15 November 2025 at the Yas Marina Circuit.[15][16][5][17]
Pre-season testing
Pre-season testing took place in early 2025. According to the organizers, over 300 terabytes of data were gathered and 1640 laps were logged between all teams.[18][19]
SIM Sprint
As part of the build-up to the race, the SIM Sprint series is a series of simulated races involving at least one fictional circuit taking place in the Autoverse, a metaverse platform made by company Autonoma.[20][21] In the future, it is expected that this act as a feeder series to the A2RL Car Race.[22][23][24][5]
SIM Sprint standings
| Colour | Result |
|---|---|
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Second place |
| Bronze | Third place |
| Green | Points classification |
| Blue | Non-points classification |
| Non-classified finish (NC) | |
| Purple | Retired, not classified (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) | |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| Withdrew (WD) | |
| Race cancelled (C) | |
| Blank | Did not practice (DNP) |
| Did not arrive (DNA) | |
| Excluded (EX) |
| Position | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Pos. | Team |
YAS |
TBD | TBD | TBD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technical University of Munich | P1 | 25 | |||
| 2 | Constructor University | P2 | 18 | |||
| 3 | TII Racing | P3 | 15 | |||
| 4 | UNIMORE Racing | P4 | 12 | |||
| 5 | Kinetiz | P5 | 10 | |||
| 6 | HUMDA Lab | P6 | 8 |
Qualifying
Qualifying report
TBA
Qualifying results
TBA
Main race
Race report
TBA
Final race classification
TBA
Notes
- ^ While the A2RL organizers have mentioned AiPEX in the initial press release, it is absent from subsequent material. Until confirmed otherwise, it is assumed that AiPEX is an entrant in 2025.
References
- ^ Gopal, Adithya (2024-10-16). "A2RL announces Season 2 dates and upgraded autonomous race car". Professional Motorsport World. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ uaenews247 (2025-05-19). "World's Largest Autonomous Racing League Returns withUSD $2.25M Prize Pool and Global Expansion". UAE News 24/7. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Part of Advanced Technology Research Council, Aspire to host 2nd Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL)". www.mediaoffice.abudhabi. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ Mills, Irwin (2025-05-19). "Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League Returns In 2025 With USD 2.25M Prize Pool And Global Teams". www.drivespark.com. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
- ^ a b c d "A2RL to return for season two at Yas Marina Circuit". Autosport.
- ^ "Abu Dhabi to host A2RL x DCL Drone Championship 2025 finale". Emirati Times. 2025-04-09. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ "Meet the Teams of A2RL Season 2: Global Innovation on the Grid". a2rl.io. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "Abu Dhabi Gears Up for Season 2 of the Autonomous Racing League: Returns with New Teams, Upgraded Autonomous Super Formula Model, and US$ 2.25 Million Prize Pot". a2rl.io. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ a b Gopal, Adithya (2024-10-16). "A2RL announces Season 2 dates and upgraded autonomous race car". Professional Motorsport World. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ "Meet the Teams of A2RL Season 2: Global Innovation on the Grid". a2rl.io. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ "Abu Dhabi Gears Up for Season 2 of the Autonomous Racing League: Returns with New Teams, Upgraded Autonomous Super Formula Model, and US$ 2.25 Million Prize Pot". a2rl.io. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ a b "A2RL x DCL Autonomous Drone Championship 2025 finale to take place in Abu Dhabi". www.mediaoffice.abudhabi. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ "In a first, AI beats human champions in drone racing competition in Abu Dhabi". India Today. 2025-06-09. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
- ^ "Meet the Winners: A2RL x DCL Autonomous Drone Championship - ITP.net". 2025-04-17. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ "A2RL to return for season two at Yas Marina Circuit". Motorsport.com. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ "A2RL Season 2: Global Expansion, $2.25M Prize". Self Drive News. 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "Man versus machine learning – A2RL is bringing together human and AI potential on the racetrack". Autosport.
- ^ "The Start of Season 2 for A2RL: Pushing Boundaries, One Lap at a Time". a2rl.io. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "Man versus machine learning – A2RL is bringing together human and AI potential on the racetrack". Autosport.
- ^ "A2RL Returns to Yas Marina Circuit with Season 2, Welcoming Global Teams and Launching Groundbreaking SIM Sprint". carsite.co.za. 2025-06-06. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ King, Jasaun (2025-05-09). "Why Autonoma Races Ahead in the Autonomy Revolution". Autonoma. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ James, Anthony (2025-05-20). "Second season announced for Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL)". ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle International. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
- ^ "The driverless car race is coming back to Abu Dhabi with a huge cash prize". Time Out Abu Dhabi. 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ "World's biggest autonomous racing league returns to UAE with $2.25m prize and global line-up". TravelsDubai. 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ a b @A2RLeague (July 8, 2025). "SIM Sprint #1 is done—and it brought the heat!" (Tweet). Retrieved 2025-07-09 – via Twitter.