Click for more.
The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, A2RL,* will make its international racing debut on 5 September 2026 in Imola, Italy, bringing up to 5 fully autonomous racecars based on the Dallara Super Formula SF23 to a racing circuit inextricably linked with Ferrari. This is A2RL’s first international race, which is another lap completed on its endurance race to become the world’s first international championship for fully autonomous racecars. Imola follows two seasons at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital. The 2026 season finale is at Abu Dhabi.
“A2RL began in Abu Dhabi with a clear conviction: the future of mobility must be tested openly, rigorously and at the limits of performance. Its international debut at Imola demonstrates how the UAE is translating bold R&D ambition into globally relevant technology platforms that can accelerate progress in autonomous mobility,” said H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council.**
Reigning A2RL champion TUM (Germany) will compete alongside Unimore Racing (Italy) and PoliMOVE (Italy) in Imola, having qualified through their performances during the 2025 season. Two additional teams, Kinetiz (UAE) and Constructor Racing (Germany), will compete in qualification events ahead of race weekend for the remaining spots on the grid.
Imola, of course, is home to The European Le Mans Series. The Imola circuit has elevation challenges, narrow racing lines, limited run-off areas and challenging overtaking zones. “Its technical corners and narrow margins will test how autonomous systems manage grip, traffic, positioning and overtaking under constant pressure. For competing teams, the event represents a highly demanding competitive environment where performance will depend on the precision of software, sensor integration, engineering strategy, and real-time autonomous decision-making,” A2RL said in a release.
“Imola is the perfect testbed for the top A2RL teams to demonstrate their racing capabilities on an extremely challenging track. Imola does not allow for half-measures. It rewards precision, control and courage, which makes it the right circuit for autonomous racing to show what it can do under real pressure. Every car on track carries the work of engineers and coders pushing AI from simulation into real competition,” said Alessandro Tucci, Executive Director, House of Grand Challenges at ASPIRE.
From Sim Sprint to Imola
“Before testing on the Imola Circuit in August, teams will prepare through A2RL’s virtual racing ecosystem, with the Sim Sprint series running from 19 May to 17 July across high fidelity digital twins of Yas Marina, the A2RL Autodrome, Suzuka, and Imola, before concluding on the Yas Marina North Circuit, the home of the A2RL Grand Final. During the prior season, Sim Sprint delivered more than 5000 hours of collective simulation testing and racing across 11 teams. The platform provides teams with a controlled environment to develop and validate their algorithms ahead of real-world autonomous competition. Across the series, teams will face multi-car racing, overtakes, incident response scenarios and edge cases that are difficult to replicate safely on track. By giving teams more competitive mileage before Imola, Sim Sprint helps prepare AI systems for the speed, pressure and unpredictability of live autonomous racing,” said A2RL.
Italy’s Motorsport and Engineering Ecosystem
“Ahead of the race, A2RL engaged Italy’s motorsport, engineering and academic communities through Motor Valley Fest and a series of university roadshows. As part of this engagement, A2RL executives participated in the program at Motor Valley Fest, the Modena-based event celebrating Emilia-Romagna’s automotive industry, where an A2RL Super Formula car was displayed on the Imola stand. The roadshow included the University of Bologna, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and Politecnico di Milano, introducing students to A2RL’s technology, its role as a high-speed AI testbed, and future pathways for teams, engineers and coders to join the series. This initiative reflects A2RL’s broader mission to connect frontier AI research with the next generation of talent,” A2RL said.
*AutoInformed on
**A2RL
The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) says it is a pioneering new motorsport that combines the push for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation with intense on-track action. Each year, engineers, programmers, and scientists will come together to develop leading-edge driving AI, ready to compete in a series of challenges and claim their stake in a multi-million-dollar prize pool.
Organized by ASPIRE, the innovation acceleration arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology and Research Council, A2RL aims to accelerate the global development of autonomous systems and technologies. “It is also intended to help make Abu Dhabi a global R&D hub for autonomous vehicle technology while also inspiring the next generation of STEM talent,” A2RL said. The 2026 series is made possible with the support of SteerAI, alongside leading partners AD Ports and du Infra; official partners AWS, Abu Dhabi Mobility and Abu Dhabi Gaming; official supporters HP and Castore; technical partners PACETEQ and Live in Five.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League to Run at Imola!
Click for more.
The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, A2RL,* will make its international racing debut on 5 September 2026 in Imola, Italy, bringing up to 5 fully autonomous racecars based on the Dallara Super Formula SF23 to a racing circuit inextricably linked with Ferrari. This is A2RL’s first international race, which is another lap completed on its endurance race to become the world’s first international championship for fully autonomous racecars. Imola follows two seasons at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital. The 2026 season finale is at Abu Dhabi.
“A2RL began in Abu Dhabi with a clear conviction: the future of mobility must be tested openly, rigorously and at the limits of performance. Its international debut at Imola demonstrates how the UAE is translating bold R&D ambition into globally relevant technology platforms that can accelerate progress in autonomous mobility,” said H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council.**
Reigning A2RL champion TUM (Germany) will compete alongside Unimore Racing (Italy) and PoliMOVE (Italy) in Imola, having qualified through their performances during the 2025 season. Two additional teams, Kinetiz (UAE) and Constructor Racing (Germany), will compete in qualification events ahead of race weekend for the remaining spots on the grid.
Imola, of course, is home to The European Le Mans Series. The Imola circuit has elevation challenges, narrow racing lines, limited run-off areas and challenging overtaking zones. “Its technical corners and narrow margins will test how autonomous systems manage grip, traffic, positioning and overtaking under constant pressure. For competing teams, the event represents a highly demanding competitive environment where performance will depend on the precision of software, sensor integration, engineering strategy, and real-time autonomous decision-making,” A2RL said in a release.
“Imola is the perfect testbed for the top A2RL teams to demonstrate their racing capabilities on an extremely challenging track. Imola does not allow for half-measures. It rewards precision, control and courage, which makes it the right circuit for autonomous racing to show what it can do under real pressure. Every car on track carries the work of engineers and coders pushing AI from simulation into real competition,” said Alessandro Tucci, Executive Director, House of Grand Challenges at ASPIRE.
From Sim Sprint to Imola
“Before testing on the Imola Circuit in August, teams will prepare through A2RL’s virtual racing ecosystem, with the Sim Sprint series running from 19 May to 17 July across high fidelity digital twins of Yas Marina, the A2RL Autodrome, Suzuka, and Imola, before concluding on the Yas Marina North Circuit, the home of the A2RL Grand Final. During the prior season, Sim Sprint delivered more than 5000 hours of collective simulation testing and racing across 11 teams. The platform provides teams with a controlled environment to develop and validate their algorithms ahead of real-world autonomous competition. Across the series, teams will face multi-car racing, overtakes, incident response scenarios and edge cases that are difficult to replicate safely on track. By giving teams more competitive mileage before Imola, Sim Sprint helps prepare AI systems for the speed, pressure and unpredictability of live autonomous racing,” said A2RL.
Italy’s Motorsport and Engineering Ecosystem
“Ahead of the race, A2RL engaged Italy’s motorsport, engineering and academic communities through Motor Valley Fest and a series of university roadshows. As part of this engagement, A2RL executives participated in the program at Motor Valley Fest, the Modena-based event celebrating Emilia-Romagna’s automotive industry, where an A2RL Super Formula car was displayed on the Imola stand. The roadshow included the University of Bologna, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and Politecnico di Milano, introducing students to A2RL’s technology, its role as a high-speed AI testbed, and future pathways for teams, engineers and coders to join the series. This initiative reflects A2RL’s broader mission to connect frontier AI research with the next generation of talent,” A2RL said.
*AutoInformed on
**A2RL
The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) says it is a pioneering new motorsport that combines the push for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation with intense on-track action. Each year, engineers, programmers, and scientists will come together to develop leading-edge driving AI, ready to compete in a series of challenges and claim their stake in a multi-million-dollar prize pool.
Organized by ASPIRE, the innovation acceleration arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology and Research Council, A2RL aims to accelerate the global development of autonomous systems and technologies. “It is also intended to help make Abu Dhabi a global R&D hub for autonomous vehicle technology while also inspiring the next generation of STEM talent,” A2RL said. The 2026 series is made possible with the support of SteerAI, alongside leading partners AD Ports and du Infra; official partners AWS, Abu Dhabi Mobility and Abu Dhabi Gaming; official supporters HP and Castore; technical partners PACETEQ and Live in Five.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.