After years of development, A2RL is holding its first race at Abu Dhabi's legendary Yas Marina circuit. On 27 April, A2RL hopes to introduce a new type of motorsport, but also kickstart a new wave of autonomous technology development.
A2RL has brought teams of engineers, scientists, and even former Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat together to turn a cutting-edge race car into something with a mind of its own. The teams, hailing from UAE, China, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Singapore, and the United States, each have the same car to start: A Dallara-built chassis, powered by a 550hp 2.0-litre turbocharged Honda-based motor linked to a six-speed gearbox. A modified take on the 185mph cars found in Japan's Super Formula, now called EVA24, they serve as a basis for the eight teams to build upon.
Rather than a human driver in the cockpit, AR2L cars have vast swathes of tech: GPS, cameras, sensors, computers, and much more at the heart of the car. That tech, and how well it's been programmed, will decide who gets on the top step, and it'll allow spectators to get an up close view of what's going on in the race, too, as they offer 360-degree views from the cockpit. If you've ever wanted to know what it was like to be at the heart of a race, A2RL will let you do just that.
The first-ever A2RL race comprises two events. The first will be revealing: AI v Human. Daniil Kvyat will face off against an A2RL car to see whether man or machine is the fastest. Later, the main event will kickstart a new breed of motorsport: After years of testing, simulations, shattered carbon fibre, and thousands of gallons of coffee, eight teams will compete in a series of races and challenges on 27 April for a $2.25million prize pot to see who's made the biggest leap in autonomous driving technology. To date, no more than two autonomous cars have raced together – A2RL's final will see four hit the track for the first time in history.
Source: Autosport