DIRIYAH: Oscar winner Adrien Brody on Thursday put in an award-winning performance as he drove an innovative Formula E electric race car to experience the Formula E GEN3 race car on the track in Saudi Arabia.
“Getting to do some electric laps today (Thursday) in the Porsche Taycan safety car with more than 700hp was awesome,” Oscar winner and star of “The Pianist,” “Asteroid City” and “Succession,” Brody said in a media statement.
A big motorsport fan, who started the engine of his automotive passion racing drag cars in New York City growing up, Brody jumped at the chance to experience the Formula E GEN3 race car on the track where Formula E’s Diriyah E-Prix double-header of races is taking place.
“I grew up drag racing and have had some track experience in the past so I am hugely grateful for the chance to actually drive the Formula E GEN3 round the Diriyah Street Circuit,” Brody said.
Brody was wearing a full racing suit, boots, gloves and helmet, and Formula E engineers worked with the actor to ease him into the confines of the single-seater cockpit of the GEN3 — the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built.
Capable of speeds of more than 200mph, the actor expertly handled the GEN3 for two laps around the 2.49km, 22-turn street track that snakes around the walls of the historic UNESCO World Heritage site.
“It gave me even greater appreciation and respect for the sport and for the talent and skill and competitive spirit that these drivers possess. There’s so much torque in these electric vehicles and they are so incredibly light, so it takes a really refined touch to feather it through the turns, and keep it from getting squirrely even gunning it down the straightaway,” Brody said.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the world’s most competitive motorsport, with races typically featuring more than 100 overtakes and last season’s title race decided on the final weekend. The 2024 Diriyah E-Prix features a double-header of races on Friday, Jan. 26 and Saturday, Jan. 27, taking place at night under sustainable LED lighting.
Adrien Brody heats up the desert in Formula E race
https://arab.news/m2kx6
Adrien Brody heats up the desert in Formula E race
- “Getting to do some electric laps today in the Porsche Taycan safety car with more than 700hp was awesome,” said the Oscar winner and star of “The Pianist”
- Brody was wearing a full racing suit, boots, gloves and helmet, and Formula E engineers worked with the actor to ease him into the confines of the single-seater cockpit of the GEN3
E1 World Championship opens 2026 season in Jeddah with expanded field, growing global profile
- Season’s opener features record 10 teams
JEDDAH: The 2026 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF will launch its new season in Jeddah, with the Red Sea city once again hosting the world’s first all-electric raceboat series, and champions Team Brady beginning their title defense against an expanded and competitive field.
Set against Jeddah’s Red Sea coastline, the season-opening E1 Jeddah GP 2026, which takes place over Jan. 23-24, will feature a record 10 teams racing the cutting-edge E1 RaceBirds, underlining the rapid growth of the championship and its ambitions as a global competition spanning four continents.
Team Brady are the outfit to beat, having claimed the Champions of the Water title in 2024 and 2025. However, competition is expected to be fiercer than ever, with several teams strengthening their lineups ahead of the new campaign.
Team Monaco and Sierra Racing Club join the championship for 2026, adding further depth to the grid with a mix of experienced and emerging pilots. Team Rafa, who finished just 11 points behind Team Brady last season after a title fight that went down to the final laps, are widely regarded as one of the leading contenders and will be aiming to make an early statement in Jeddah.
Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James also return to race on home waters, one year on from their E1 debut. Carrying local pride, the team will be looking to build on last season’s momentum in front of Saudi fans.
The world-class field is further strengthened by a roster of high-profile, celebrity-backed teams, including Will Smith’s Team Westbrook, DJ Steve Aoki’s Team Aoki, Team Drogba, led by football legend Didier Drogba and his partner Gabrielle Lemaire, and Team Miami, featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Marc Anthony.
Fans will be able to get close to the action across qualifying and race day, with on-water viewing available from the E1 Fan Zone. The area will give visitors the chance to see the E1 RaceBirds up close and will feature a gaming arena with simulator and virtual reality experiences, as well as a VOX cinema screening of “Zootopia 2.” Merchandise outlets and a range of food and beverage options will also be available, creating a family-friendly race-day experience.
Beyond the racing, E1’s return to Saudi Arabia reflects the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the future of electric sport and sustainable mobility. The championship serves as a living laboratory for electric propulsion systems, accelerating innovation that can influence marine transport while also supporting broader conversations around ocean protection.
As part of its partnership with E1, Formula E’s Driving Force Presented by PIF E360 is hosting its educational program in Jeddah this week. The initiative aims to inspire students aged 8 to 18 to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as sustainability, through the lens of electric racing.
The program reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025 alone, with a further 50,000 targeted this year, taking its reach to over 100,000 young people worldwide.
On the sporting side, PIF’s commitment to excellence will again be recognized through the PIF Pilot of the Day award, presented after finals day to honor standout skill and performance over the race weekend.
Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of E1, said: “Starting our 2026 season in Jeddah is a powerful statement for E1. The region represents ambition, innovation and a clear vision for the future, and the Red Sea provides the perfect environment as our largest grid yet of 10 teams begin their battle to be crowned 2026 Champions of the Water.”
The Jeddah race is set to deliver high-intensity competition, renewed rivalries and an early glimpse into the future of high-performance racing on water.
