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Diriyah ePrix

The Diriyah ePrix was a race of the single-seater, electrically powered Formula E championship, held in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. It was first held as part of the 2018–19 season and was the first Formula E race to be held in the Middle East.[1] The second Diriyah ePrix was held on 22 and 23 November 2019.[2] The final Diriyah ePrix was held on 26 and 27 January 2024. The final race was won by Nick Cassidy for Jaguar. The Saudi Arabian Formula E round will be moved to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, becoming the Jeddah ePrix.

Diriyah ePrix
Riyadh Street Circuit (2021–2024)
Race information
Number of times held6
First held2018
Last held2024
Most wins (drivers)United Kingdom Sam Bird (2)
Netherlands Nyck de Vries (2)
Germany Pascal Wehrlein (2)
Most wins (constructors)United States Andretti (3)
Circuit length2.495 km (1.550 miles)
Laps36/37
Last race (2024 Race 2)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

History

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As a part of Saudi Arabia's long-term plan to hold international sports events, the General Sports Authority along with Saudi Arabian Motor Federation made a ten-year agreement to hold a Formula E ePrix in Saudi Arabia.[3]

The 2018 Saudia Ad Diriyah ePrix was held during the day in December 2018 as the first race of Gen 2 of Formula E and Season 5 of ABB Formula E. BMW’s Antonio Felix Da Costa took pole position and went on to win the race in BMW’s first Formula E Race

In 2019, the Saudia Diriyah ePrix was held as a ‘double-header’ meaning two races were held on the same weekend. Winners from the last Diriyah ePrix BMW i Andretti Autosport took pole position again this time with Alexander Sims but in the race the British driver didn’t manage to convert pole to a win and the race was won by Sam Bird from Envision-Virgin. In the second race Sims took pole again but this time managed to win a lights-to-flag victory on the streets of Diriyah for Andretti.

For the 2021 Diriyah E-Prix the race was held as a ‘night-race’ meaning the race was held after sunset and the track was lined with lights above the circuit. Nyck de Vries took pole in his Mercedes-EQ and in the race he managed to lead every lap to win his first Formula E race. Robin Frijns took pole in the second race but the lead changed eight times and eventually Frijns’ old teammate Sam Bird won the race for Jaguar after the race was ended early due to a crash towards the end of the race.

Formula E returned to Diriyah once again for the 2022 Diriyah E-Prix and in the first race Stoffel Vandoorne qualified on pole in the new qualification system for Season 8. His Mercedes EQ teammate Nyck de Vries climbed up from 3rd place to eventually lead a Mercedes 1-2 in the third Formula E night race. In the second race de Vries qualified on pole but it was Mercedes customer team ROKIT Venturi who won the race.

In 2023, the CORE Diriyah E-Prix was held for the first time as rounds 2 and 3 after the new season and new Gen 3 era had started in Mexico City. Envison’s Sebastien Buemi took pole for the first race but in the race championship leader Jake Dennis climbed up the order to second place from P11 and Pascal Wehrlein from 9th won the race and took Porsche’s second Formula E win. In the second race rookie Jake Hughes took his, and McLaren’s first pole but didn’t manage to keep the lead in the race and eventually Pascal Wehrlein won again becoming the fifth driver to win two races on the same venue on the same weekend and Jake Dennis also finished second again in his Porsche powered Andretti.

In June 2024, it was announced that the race would move from the Riyadh Street Circuit to a new venue for the 2024–25 season.[4] In September 2024, the Jeddah ePrix was confirmed as the replacement.[5]

Circuit

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The original layout of Riyadh Street Circuit, in which utilized the same start and finish stratight (2018–2019)

The race was held at the Riyadh Street Circuit in Diriyah, a town in Saudi Arabia located on the north-western outskirts of the capital, Riyadh. The track is 2.495 km (1.550 mi) in length and features 21 turns. This configuration was used for the 2018 and 2019 editions of the ePrix, with minor modifications being made for the 2021 edition.[6]

Results

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Edition Track Winner Second Third Pole position Fastest lap Ref
2018 Riyadh Street Circuit   António Félix da Costa   Jean-Éric Vergne   Jérôme d'Ambrosio   António Félix da Costa   André Lotterer [7]
2019 Race 1   Sam Bird   Stoffel Vandoorne   André Lotterer   Alexander Sims   Mitch Evans [8]
Race 2   Alexander Sims   Lucas di Grassi   Stoffel Vandoorne   Alexander Sims   António Félix da Costa [9]
2021 Race 1   Nyck de Vries   Edoardo Mortara   Mitch Evans   Nyck de Vries   Stoffel Vandoorne [10]
Race 2   Sam Bird   Robin Frijns   António Félix da Costa   Robin Frijns   Nyck de Vries [11]
2022 Race 1   Nyck de Vries   Stoffel Vandoorne   Jake Dennis   Stoffel Vandoorne   Nick Cassidy [12]
Race 2   Edoardo Mortara   Robin Frijns   Lucas Di Grassi   Nyck de Vries   Sam Bird [13]
2023 Race 1   Pascal Wehrlein   Jake Dennis   Sam Bird   Sébastien Buemi   René Rast [14]
Race 2   Pascal Wehrlein   Jake Dennis   René Rast   Jake Hughes   Sam Bird [14]
2024 Race 1   Jake Dennis   Jean-Èric Vergne   Nick Cassidy   Jean-Èric Vergne   Jake Dennis [15]
Race 2   Nick Cassidy   Robin Frijns   Oliver Rowland   Oliver Rowland   Nick Cassidy [15]

Repeat winners (drivers)

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Wins Driver Years won
2   Sam Bird 2019 (Race 1), 2021 (Race 2)
2   Nyck De Vries 2021 (Race 1), 2022 (Race 1)
2   Pascal Wehrlein 2023 (Race 1), 2023 (Race 2)
Source:[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Formula E set to revolutionize motorsport fans' experience at Ad Diriyah E-Prix in Saudi Arabia". Arab News. 5 December 2018. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Formula E is returning to Saudi Arabia this year". Esquire Middle East. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Formula E to race in Ad Diriyah for opening round of Season 5". FIA Formula E. 17 May 2018. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  4. ^ Wilde, Dominik (11 June 2024). "Formula E unveils 2024-25 calendar". Racer. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  5. ^ Mackley, Stefan (3 September 2024). "Formula E to race on Jeddah street circuit used by F1". Autosport. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  6. ^ Thukral, Rachit; Vinel, Benjamin (16 February 2021). "Formula E makes last-minute Diriyah track layout changes". www.motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  7. ^ "2018 Saudia Ad Diriyah ePrix". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  8. ^ "2019 Saudia Ad Diriyah ePrix Race 1". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  9. ^ "2019 Saudia Ad Diriyah ePrix Race 2". Racing-Reference. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Formula E 2021 Diriyah ePrix 1 Classification". Motorsport Stats. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Formula E 2021 Diriyah ePrix 2 Classification". Motorsport Stats. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Formula E 2022 Diriyah ePrix 2 Classification". Motorsport Stats. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Formula E 2022 Diriyah ePrix 2 Classification". Motorsport Stats. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  14. ^ a b "The Official Home of Formula E". The Official Home of Formula E. Retrieved 19 February 2023.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ a b "The Official Home of Formula E". The Official Home of Formula E. Retrieved 28 January 2024.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Formula E Winners List (Drivers)". Formula E Stats. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
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