Carlo Boutagy, the chief executive officer of CBX – official promoter of the Diriyah E-Prix – talks about the Herculean tasks that went into the development of the Diriyah Circuit and the Formula E village, as well as the benefits that were from it.
Last year you oversaw the development of the Diriyah Circuit and the Formula E village. It was a race against time where everything had to be ready from scratch in three months and with global standards. How did you feel during development and about the results after?
It was a challenge. How do you build a track in the middle of a UNESCO protected world heritage site? But it was a challenge we welcomed and collectively, the decision makers from CBX, FE, FIA, GSA and SAMF had one goal in mind: to deliver a world class event on December 15 2018. I personally felt a huge responsibility to protect and preserve the site which in turn meant daily collaboration with all stakeholders such as the engineers, infrastructure teams, civil works bodies, telecoms companies etc.
Are the stakeholders you are working with more prepared, does last year’s success make you more confident as a team? Or even more ambitious?
The stakeholders were well prepared last year and delivered an outstanding job. Of course, that means they have been able to return with more knowledge this year. With the benefit of having a race in hand, there are a lot of positives and learnings to take away from last year’s event - but we can’t take anything for granted. Each project needs to be meticulously defined, planned, implemented and executed with the objective of delivering the greatest experience possible for the fans. We also strive to diversify, to keep everything fresh so it’s certainly not a case of just replicating last year’s event. We take enormous pride in growing the event from what it was – a pride which keeps our team focused and dedicated.
The Diriyah Circuit has been hailed by many including drivers as an iconic track, why is that and was that your goal from the start?
From the start our aim was to design and build an iconic track, one that stood out from other circuits that drivers found challenging and spectators found thrilling. Being a UNESCO works heritage site – the backdrop is serene, rich in culture and beauty. We wanted to compliment this on the sporting side by creating an unforgettable track that does justice to the historical landscape we were fortunate enough to have as a location.
The track, built in close collaboration with the FIA and national governing bodies, offers a great deal of opportunities for racing drivers to overtake, unleash power, and fight for top positions. There’s quite a lot of elevation changes which is challenging. From the top of turn 4 all the way down to turn 16, there’s a steep decline. The Sector 1 is really sneaky and rather twisty. By the end of the track, at turn 17, you have a long wide straight where you can fully unleash power, there’s definitely an opportunity to overtake. This then leads into Turn 18, 19 and 20, by the chicane there’s lots of opportunities to overtake too, completely different to any other FE tracks.
Carlo Boutagy, the chief executive officer of CBX. (Supplied)
What has been the biggest challenge you have overcome during your time working on Formula E in Saudi?
Sleepless nights, countless deadlines … the heavens opening with rainfall to disrupt the build at pivotal moments. People may recall that last year it rained on the morning of the actual race – in the middle of the desert, which was unreal. We couldn’t believe it but we survived to tell the tale. In fact, lots of things can happen when organizing an event but when armed with determination, preparation, great teams and experience, a lot can be achieved.
What do you think Formula E’s legacy in Saudi Arabia will be? What personally would you like to see achieved in the years ahead?
Firstly, vision 2030 sets out the focus of the Kingdoms future and FE aligns itself perfectly with that vision. I believe Formula E is more than just an event that entertains, it’s a brand with a higher purpose and an urgency to address the some of the environmental challenges such as car pollution that is believed to be a contributing factor accelerating climate change on our planet. FE creates awareness. FE sends out the message that we can all help to save the planet. It shows that when the racing lights go green, the city has gone green. That’s what Formula E brings to everyone, everywhere in the heart of the cities – innovative technology & sustainable awareness. These two messages, to name a few, fit with the Kingdom’s vision 2030 and I am proud to a part the change.
What would you say to international fans thinking about a Formula E event now that Saudi Arabia has launched tourist visas? How is the experience different from elsewhere in the world?
I would invite them to come and see for themselves how the Kingdom has opened its doors to the international community. It’s amazing to see how much the country has invited people in, I grew up here, but it’s not that commonly known to the outside world what Saudi has to offer. The country is really very beautiful with breathtaking landscapes, we have a great culinary scene and I think through sports there are many entertaining events to experience. The ease at which people can now get a tourist visa has taken any hassle out of the process.
And to Saudi’s who saw the incredible images that were created at last year’s event but didn’t go, why should they come this year?
Why? Because there really is something for everyone for car fanatics, families with children, thrill seekers, foodies, techies. If you like having a good time you should come and check out the event and I guarantee, you’ll be back next year. There are dance acts, kids workshops, ziplines, amphitheater for performances, crazy roaming acts, reaction tests that racers undergo, giant screens, delicious food pop ups, chill out zones, meet and greet were you can get drivers to sign your memorabilia, driving sims, kids driving schools and two entire days of it. It’s worth mentioning the Formula E race weekend is part of a wider Diriyah Season which has a whole host of events to create memorable moments from sporting to incredible fine dining.
We have not spoken about the concerts yet, but how huge do you think these will be?
The concerts are a great asset for the FE event, a perfect way for people to hang out, enjoy the vibe and have fun watching their favorite band after the race. The concerts compliment the race but first and foremost, visitors need to come sit in their grandstand seat as the lights go out on the starting grid and soak up the atmosphere, grit and excitement of 45 min of non-stop action.
Do you think Saudi has now established itself as a world-class host for sports events?
Absolutely, last year here is Diriyah, it was a sell-out, with 60,000 fans from 80 different countries coming to enjoy the hospitality. This year, we are very honored to not only open The ABB FIA Formula E championship with a double header but also to kick start the Diriyah Season, which will host an epic boxing clash, a tennis cup, and an equestrian festival. The Kingdom will also host the Dakar in 2020 and ExtremeE in 2021. I think this firmly establishes Saudi on the map as a world class sporting host.
Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in Formula E. Does the Diriyah E-Prix in any way stand out from any of the other rounds of the season?
As a global racing brand, Formula E competes in many cities across five continents. I have attended all FE races and I can assure you that the Diriyah E-Prix is one of a kind. Location-wise Diriyah is the oldest city in Saudi Arabia where the Kingdom was founded and home and host to Formula E, the fully electric street racing championship. The is where the past meets the future. The marriage of heritage and culture with the technologically advanced, dynamic sporting series creates a unique experience… then there is the developing fanbase here. The Saudi people may be relatively new to the sport, but boy can they make a noise, and they are passionate and eager to come and learn more about the sport. The fact that we have a double header this year demonstrates the fast pace of the growth of the race in Saudi, it’s unusual for Formula E to allow cities to host a double header. This year there is only London and us as its usually a one-day event. It’s also happens to be the most competitive line-up in single seater motor racing ever.
You took everybody’s breath away last year delivering the Diriyah Circuit and hosting an incredible inaugural event. How will this year look to top that?
“A huge compliment. The way I see it, we witnessed a milestone event in Diriyah last year. It was the start of a 10-year deal between Formula E and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A game changer with many `firsts’ for KSA such as tourist visas opening up the country to foreigners, female racers competing at the track here for the first time and of course the A list international unsegregated music concerts. You said it…it took everybody’s breath away and for me it was nothing short of incredible. I was extremely proud to be a part of the experience which was only made possible by the hard work and dedication of a large team and the immense support we received throughout the project – we certainly set the goal posts high.
