Record-breaking lap times set the stage for a historic race at Yas Marina Circuit
Abu Dhabi, UAE – 23 October 2025: The stage is set for the world’s first-ever six-car autonomous Grand Final as six international teams qualify for the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) showdown on 15 November 2025. After a week of intense, high-speed qualification rounds at Yas Marina Circuit, reigning champions TUM have claimed pole position, closely followed by Italy’s Unimore, who made history by setting the fastest autonomous lap ever recorded on the track.
A2RL, now in its second season, is a showcase of technological brilliance — a platform where innovation, engineering, and artificial intelligence meet the adrenaline of motorsport. With US$2.25 million in prize money on the line, eleven international teams from universities, research institutes, and private enterprises competed fiercely to secure one of six coveted Grand Final spots.
Breaking Records and Boundaries
During the Pace Qualification sessions, teams delivered lap times that would make even professional drivers take notice. Italy’s Unimore became the first autonomous racing team in history to beat a human benchmark, setting a blistering 58.87-second lap — edging past a 59.20-second lap set by a professional driver during data collection.
That record wasn’t just fast; it was a statement. As AI systems learned the circuit’s intricate braking points and apex lines, Unimore’s performance proved that autonomous racing is rapidly closing — and now surpassing — the human performance gap.
The Multi-Car Qualification phase added even more excitement, with four 12-lap heats testing each team’s AI precision, adaptability, and racing instincts. TUM, last year’s champions, delivered a thrilling overtake on Unimore, securing pole position and reinforcing their reputation as the team to beat.
A World-First Grand Final
The upcoming 24-lap Grand Final will mark a historic moment — the largest-ever multi-car autonomous race. The six qualified teams are:
- TUM (Germany)
- Unimore (Italy)
- Kinetiz (Canada)
- TII Racing (UAE)
- PoliMOVE (Italy)
- Constructor (USA)
Each will deploy its own cutting-edge AI “driver” in a head-to-head race for global supremacy in autonomous motorsport. The Silver Race time trial will also see the remaining five teams return to the track in pursuit of technical excellence and valuable championship points.
Adding to the spectacle, former Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat returns for the second edition of the Human vs AI challenge, a live demonstration pitting human instinct against machine precision — and highlighting just how far AI has evolved since last year’s race.
Pushing the Limits of Autonomous Intelligence
“This season, we’re pushing the boundaries of autonomous racing even further and redefining what is possible,” said Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, which organizes A2RL under the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC).
“From week to week, we are seeing machine capabilities rapidly approach — and even surpass — human performance. Unimore’s record-breaking lap is a clear signal of how fast this field is advancing. Next month, we’ll witness six formidably competitive teams racing for victory in what promises to be an exhilarating Grand Final.”
Ayoub Raji, Co-Lead of Unimore Racing, echoed the excitement:
“We’re proud to have demonstrated that an autonomous race car can deliver close to human capabilities. Our software proved not only to be the fastest but also the safest, skillfully avoiding a potential collision during TUM’s overtake. We can’t wait to push our system to its absolute limit in the Grand Final.”
Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week: The Future in Motion
The Grand Final will serve as the climax of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (ADAW) — a new six-day celebration of autonomy, innovation, and robotics. Featuring the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, DRIFTx Exhibition, and RoboCup Asia-Pacific, ADAW will unite researchers, engineers, and industry leaders from around the world to explore the future of intelligent mobility.
A2RL was conceived under the vision of H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President and Secretary General of the ATRC. Through ASPIRE, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself at the forefront of AI and autonomous systems research, transforming theoretical innovation into real-world applications — at speed.
