Following an enthralling season-opener in Mexico earlier this month, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is Saudi Arabia-bound for its second high-speed instalment this weekend (27/28 January), with a double dose of electrifying entertainment in prospect in the historic desert kingdom. 

Snaking around the ancient city walls of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Diriyah, the 2.495km, 21-turn Riyadh Street Circuit first joined the Formula E calendar in 2018. Fast and technical in equal measure, the track poses a stern challenge in terms of strategy and energy management and is illuminated by low-consumption LEDs, with both Friday and Saturday’s races set to take place after dark.

The combination of that cutting-edge technology and Formula E’s pioneering Gen3 single-seater – the series’ lightest, most powerful and most efficient car to-date – strikes a stark contrast with the circuit’s centuries-old surroundings, making the Diriyah E-Prix a unique juxtaposition of old meets new.

There was nothing new about the outcome in Mexico City just over a week ago, however, as Jake Dennis – arguably the championship’s form driver, having not placed lower than fourth in the most recent five races – got his Season 9 bid off to the perfect start with a dominant victory. The result also marked another success for Porsche power around the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, as Avalanche Andretti – just like in the first race with Gen2 – led the charge into Formula E’s new era.

Dennis was a podium-finisher in Diriyah last year, while experienced stablemate André Lotterer scooped the runner-up spoils in 2019 – and, ominously, the American outfit counts more wins around the Riyadh Street Circuit than any of its current competitors. That suggests the team is in good shape to continue its commanding form.

TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein proved to be Dennis’ closest threat in Mexico, and it was his team-mate – 2019/20 champion António Félix da Costa – who won the inaugural Diriyah E-Prix from pole position in 2018, reaching the rostrum again in 2021.

Fellow former title-holder Lucas Di Grassi produced a vintage performance to hold off a gaggle of pursuers for third place on his debut for Mahindra Racing in the season curtain-raiser, and the Brazilian was a top three-finisher in Saudi Arabia in both 2019 and 2022. Following a disappointing start to the campaign, meanwhile, Oliver Rowland in the sister car will be eager to bounce back around a circuit where the Briton boasts a solid points-scoring record.

Countryman Jake Hughes turned heads on his series bow with NEOM McLaren Formula E Team in Mexico – running third for much of the race, only to slip to fifth at the chequered flag – and the rookie will be keen to confirm his podium potential this weekend.

Sébastien Buemi looked rejuvenated on his maiden appearance for Envision Racing last time out, and although Diriyah has never been particularly kind to the Swiss star, his change of team seems to have unlocked a new lease of life in the 2015/16 champion.

Elsewhere in the field, a number of other drivers have reason to feel hopeful heading to the Middle East – chief amongst them, Sam Bird. Out-of-luck in the 2022/23 opener, the Briton triumphed in Saudi Arabia in consecutive campaigns in 2019/20 and 2020/21; Jaguar TCS Racing team-mate Mitch Evans is similarly a podium-finisher there.

Edoardo Mortara won the most recent edition of the race last year – having finished runner-up 11 months earlier – and both he and Maximilian Günther aim to prove that Maserati MSG Racing’s pre-season testing form was no flash in the pan, after struggling to produce the same kind of pace in Mexico City.

DS Penske was the other team whose result fell short of expectations in Latin America, with defending champion Stoffel Vandoorne scraping into the points in 10th on the last lap. The Belgian, however, has three prior rostrum appearances in Diriyah – as well as a pole position – while double title-winner Jean-Éric Vergne on the other side of the garage finished within half-a-second of victory there in 2018, so both are likely to be in the mix this weekend.

There is, finally, one change in the 22-strong field, with South Africa’s Kelvin van der Linde standing in for Robin Frijns at ABT CUPRA Formula E Team, as the Dutchman – twice a runner-up in Saudi Arabia – recovers from a hand injury sustained in a first lap accident in Mexico.

Round two of the campaign will get underway at 20:00 local time (18:00 CET) on Friday, 27 January, followed by round three at the same time on Saturday, 28 January.

WHAT'S NEW FOR 2023

- Introduction of the smaller, lighter and faster Gen3 cars

- Races will run to a set number of laps rather than time, in a bid to make them simpler to follow while allowing teams more control over their own strategies.

- The Safety Car or Full Course Yellow neutralisations will be compensated by added laps rather than added time. 

Please find here the 2022 - 2023 Sporting Regulations.

THE 2023 TRACK

MEDIA CENTRE

Opening Hours of the Media Center

- Wednesday 25 January 10:00 - 18:00 (all-season and pre-approved only)
- Thursday 26 January 09:30 - 19:30
- Friday 27 January 10:00 - 00:00
- Saturday 28 January 10:00 - 00:00

2023 ABB FIA FORMULA E DIRIYAH E-PRIX TIMETABLE
 

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
 

2023 ABB FIA FORMULA E DIRIYAH E-PRIX ENTRIES

2023 ABB FIA FORMULA E WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS 

The classification of the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is available on the following link.

2022 ABB FIA FORMULA E DIRIYAH E-PRIX RESULTS