RIRIYAH: Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren Racing, has praised the Diriyah E-Prix as “first class” ahead of this weekend’s ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race.
The Californian, a professional racing driver before entering motorsport’s business and commercial worlds, is in Saudi Arabia supporting NEOM McLaren Formula E Team drivers Jake Hughes and Sam Bird at the Diriyah E-Prix.
Brown, 52, is relishing rounds two and three of the all-electric Formula E season in Diriyah on Friday and Saturday – where both races take place at night under the lights – and he lauded the Kingdom’s hosting of elite motorsports.
Describing the Diriyah E-Prix as “great” at a pre-race press conference, Brown said: “Everything out here is first class. It’s one of the drivers’ favorites.
“The facilities are great, and I always like when you land at an airport and as soon as you land you know that there’s a race going on. It means you know that the city and the country are fully behind the race.
“As soon as you land at the airport here, you’re seeing Formula E signs – and that’s a good, early indication of how much a territory is getting behind the races it is putting on.”
Brown noted that the Diriyah E-Prix, in its sixth edition this year after the inaugural outing in December 2018, was “very important” as part of Saudi Arabia’s wider ambitions of growing motorsport in the country.
“Just look at what Saudi Arabia has done through different races in different territories – there’s been lots of different fans exposed to different forms of motor racing.
“The race in Diriyah is really well attended, looks great under the lights and represents Saudi Arabia really well,” he added.
The 2024 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race calendar consists of 16 races, with the opening race of the season having taken place in Mexico earlier this month.
Ian James, team principal of the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, said: “We are absolutely committed to Formula E. It is very much going on an upward trajectory.
“If you look at the start of the season with the engagement figures we’ve got, that’s really going in the right direction. The calendar is looking strong both in terms of races we’ve had for some time now and some new venues as well. All of that is moving in the right direction.”
McLaren Racing CEO hails Diriyah E-Prix as ‘first class’
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McLaren Racing CEO hails Diriyah E-Prix as ‘first class’
- ‘I like when you land at an airport and as soon as you land you know there’s a race going on. It means the city and the country are fully behind the race’: Zak Brown
- The 2024 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race calendar consists of 16 races
Aoki beat Brady to win dramatic E1 Jeddah GP and take early championship lead
- The win marked the second time Aoki Racing Team has triumphed in Jeddah, giving the outfit an early lead in the championship
JEDDAH: Aoki Racing Team claimed victory at the E1 Jeddah GP 2026 after an intense final on the waters of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, fending off defending champions Team Brady.
The win marked the second time Aoki Racing Team has triumphed in Jeddah, giving the outfit an early lead in the championship. Pilots Sara Misir and Dani Clos delivered a commanding performance in front of thousands of spectators, capitalizing on a decisive final run.
After the checkered flag, Team AlUla — championed by LeBron James — were promoted to third place after debutants Sierra Racing Club received a penalty for an overtaking infringement, dropping them to fifth.
The race was packed with drama from the outset, with Misir going foil-to-foil with Team Rafa’s Spanish pilot Cris Lazarraga into the opening corner. There was a slight touch between the two E1 RaceBirds, with Misir emerging ahead.
Teammate Clos had earlier done the groundwork in Final 1 to secure the inside lane for Misir. The Jamaican pilot then dominated the remaining six laps, showcasing a strong display of teamwork and race control.
Misir was also awarded the coveted PIF Pilot of the Day award in recognition of her outstanding performance on debut for Aoki Racing Team. Her racecraft, control and consistency under pressure stood out throughout the day’s racing.
The Jeddah race marked the championship’s now traditional Saudi season opener, reinforcing the Kingdom’s growing role in the future of electric sport, sustainable mobility and innovation on water.
Trophies were presented to Aoki Racing Team by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, minister of sport; to Team Brady by HRH Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman Al-Saud, chairman of the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation; and to Team AlUla pilots by Sophi Horne, founder and chairman of Seabird Technologies.
Misir said: “It feels good. Dani went out there and finished P1, so I knew I had big boots to fill. I went out, kept my head down and tried my hardest.”
Her teammate, Clos, added: “I’m on a cloud. This is an amazing place to be — I’m happy with Aoki Racing Team, happy with everyone around me. This is super special for us.”
Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of E1, who also presented trophies to the winning representatives, said: “Seeing Aoki Racing Team clinch victory here today in Jeddah by beating the defending champions was an exhilarating spectacle, framed against the Red Sea skyline.
“All the teams were cheered on by thousands of spectators who gathered to watch the racing action. Our thanks go to them and our fantastic partners — the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation and the Ministry of Sport — who have once again extended their hospitality and helped us deliver an incredible event.”
Attention now turns to Lake Como, Italy, from April 24–25, as the championship heads to Europe for the next stop on its global tour.
