F1 Academy, F2 drivers hit positive notes for Alpine during tough Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

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Despite an underwhelming season opening for Alpine’s senior drivers, Abbi Pulling wins a P2 finish at inaugural, all-female F1 Academy races in Saudi, and Kush Maini finishes second in Formula 2 category. (Alpine)
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Despite an underwhelming season opening for Alpine’s senior drivers, Abbi Pulling wins a P2 finish at inaugural, all-female F1 Academy races in Saudi, and Kush Maini finishes second in Formula 2 category. (Alpine)
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Updated 12 March 2024
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F1 Academy, F2 drivers hit positive notes for Alpine during tough Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

  • Senior drivers may have had underwhelming starts to the season, but Abbi Pulling and Kush Maini had an encouraging weekend in Jeddah
  • Pulling was delighted with her first experience by the Red Sea

JEDDAH: It is fair to say that Alpine have not had the best of starts to the Formula 1 season.
An underwhelming opening weekend in Bahrain for Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon was followed, days later by sweeping changes at management level, with three new appointments as technical directors: Joe Burnell (engineering), David Wheater (aerodynamics), and Ciaron Pilbeam (performance).
Before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Gasly told Arab News that he expected another “tough” race, with the car having had no upgrades since Bahrain. He subsequently retired from the race, while Ocon improved from 18th on the grid to finish 13th.
But there was far better news for Alpine elsewhere last weekend, with Abbi Pulling having a win and a P2 finish at inaugural, all-female F1 Academy races in Saudi, and Kush Maini finishing second in the Formula 2 category.
Pulling was delighted with her first experience by the Red Sea.
“We did a three-day test two weeks ago, but before that I’d never driven the track, only on a simulator. We were actually pretty well prepared coming into the first race. But what a track — the circuit of the year for me; I don’t know if anything would top it.”
Pulling finished second in the first race on Friday, and said the narrow streets of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit suited her style of driving “to a T”.
“The close walls, fine lines,” the 20-year-old told Arab News. “It’s unforgiving, that’s the word that I like to use. It’s like what I grew up with in the UK. The UK tracks are normally very tight and unforgiving. And I think it plays into my favor here, the speed and everything. I just absolutely love it.”
Another factor for Pulling to contend with was the heat.
“The races have been tough, it’s been at the hottest point in the day at around three o’clock,” she said. “As a Brit, we’re not used to the heat, so I’ve been in P2 for both of them, starting from P2 and finishing in P2.”
Pulling crossed the finish line second in race two, but was later awarded victory after Doriane Pin, the French winner of race one, received a penalty.
“In race two, we had a really good fight and I was putting on a lot of pressure. So that was a very big positive for me and the team. Just looking forward to Miami and continuing that fight.”
Following round two in Miami, F1 Academy will move on to Barcelona (June 20-23), Zandvoort (Aug. 22-24), Singapore (Sept. 19-21), and Doha (Nov. 28-30) before finishing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Dec. 5-7).
“I really want to keep this momentum forward,” said Pulling.”The biggest thing about winning championships is consistency and keeping your head, and I think that will be really important this year. Nothing’s changed, I need to make sure that I don’t get ahead of myself, don’t get too big for my boots, and just keep clicking along like I have with the team.”
Pulling also praised the three Arab drivers who are part of F1 Academy: Saudi Arabia’s Reema Juffali, and the Emirati sisters Amna and Hamda Al-Qubaisi.
“Reema is a proper local, she grew up in Jeddah, so it’s great to have a local driver,” she said. “And the Qubaisis are obviously pretty local as well. So, it’s amazing for them to have a home race, I’m very jealous because I’d love to be racing at Silverstone. It’s great, the level is high, they are all very competitive, especially Hamda and Amna, who have come from the back of last year having a successful season.”
The British driver reaffirmed what it means to have F1 Academy provide an opportunity for a new generation of female drivers.
“It’s incredible to be a part of it,” said Pulling. “All of us are pioneering the way with Susie (Wolff), we’re creating a platform for females to be seen and show their talents off, which is so special to be a part of. I never really had that when I was younger, had something to watch where there were lots of females, and I was very lucky that I was exposed to motorsport through my family and my dad. So, it’s nice to be that person for someone to get them into motorsport and inspire them to push and try something different and go against the grain.”
Alpine’s F2 driver, Kush Maini from India, is similarly charting his own path, and having started ninth on the grid, fought back to grab second place and a podium finish.
“Good race. I think (on Friday) we struggled, so we changed the car a lot (for Saturday), and I’m glad everything worked out because we seem to be back on the pace,” he said.
“We pulled out a big gap and the safety car troubled us slightly, but I think Enzo (Fittipladi) was too quick for us. I’m happy we finished second, we got some good points in the championship, but I’m also happy that we made a big step in the car.”
It was Maini’s second year racing at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and like Pulling, he found the layout to his liking.
“Obviously, I’m with a new team this year, but this track is amazing,” he said. “It’s amazing from a driver’s point of view, and I always enjoy myself when I come here.
“I’d like to think every track suits me, but it was a great pleasure to drive around.”
The 23-year-old said that joining Alpine has seen his life-long ambitions realized.
“It’s my first time being associated with an F1 team,” Maini said. “And to do it with Alpine has always been a dream of mine. Just me coming here after every session and speaking to some of the bosses and just being involved in everything improves my experience so much. And it’s really an honor and an amazing opportunity for myself.”
Maini believes having races in this part of the world will increase the chances of local drivers emerging to compete at the highest level of motorsports.
“Coming from a country like India, where racing isn’t as big as, let’s say, Europe, for me every step toward more views or people getting more into it, is amazing. It’s great to see it growing every year and in countries like India and Saudi and places where it was not a normal sport, five, six years ago.”
Miani is optimistic about the rest of the F2 season, with a view to making the ultimate step up eventually.
“I think it’s positive,” he said. “It’s very early, but every weekend we’ll be pushing to do our best and the goal is to fight for the championship so that’s the main target.”
“Of course, (Formula 1) is my goal,” he added. “It’s always been my goal.”
If Maini needs any inspiration, he could look to Jack Doohan, Alpine’s reserve and test driver, and a third-place finisher in F2 last season.
“It’s been really special to be honest. I joined Alpine Academy in 2022 and then went into a sort of makeshift role as reserve driver at the end of that year, into an official role from 2023,” the 21-year-old Australian said.
“So, technically, my third year in the team and second as reserve drive, and it’s been really cool, I feel very much part of the furniture, part of the team, and creating those connections with all the engineers and the mechanics and a good bunch of people. It’s very important to me and will prove crucial when I become a full-time driver.”
Doohan has driven on Jeddah Corniche Circuit three times since its launch in 2021.
“It’s one of my favorite tracks on the circuit,” he said. “It’s a super special place for me, especially under the lights.”
Doohan’s third-place finish in F2 last year was delivered against the odds, something that could even inspire Alpine’s senior drivers this year.
“It was a difficult start to the year, we had mechanical issues with the car that were able to find five rounds in, and so unfortunately, I didn’t really score any points up until then,” he said. “But to come back after that and still finish third, from that moment in time to the end of the event, we scored the most amount of points in the championship by about 30.
“We really did a good job to come back and, you can say, dominate that part of the season, but unfortunately, losing five rounds at the start of the year just meant we were a little bit too far back,” Doohan added.
“So, all in all, in what was in our control, we won the most races, scored the most points onwards from that test. When we had it together, we really did very well. Finishing my last Formula 2 race with a pole and a win, I’m looking forward to my next step.”


‘Privileged’: Saudi races are some of the calendar’s busiest, says Formula E’s director of operations

Updated 07 February 2025
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‘Privileged’: Saudi races are some of the calendar’s busiest, says Formula E’s director of operations

  • Ahead of the Jeddah E-Prix next week, Darcey Lingley speaks to Arab News about her decade-long stint at the electric racing series and its rise in popularity

DUBAI: When the Jeddah E-Prix’s double-header takes place over Feb. 14-15, few people will be as busy as Darcey Lingley — with the exception of the drivers tearing around the track, perhaps.

The director of operations at Formula E has been with the organization for about a decade and after six years of hosting the race in Diriyah, she will be overseeing the latest edition of the race at its new location at Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

As someone involved with the ABB FIA Formula E Championship from its earliest days, Lingley has had a closer look than most at just how the race-day experience, in Saudi and elsewhere, has developed in recent years.

“I’m very fortunate,” Lingley told Arab News. “I’ve seen every iteration of our Saudi Arabian events. So I was there in that very first one (2018), and I have to say, especially where we were able to race, in Diriyah, has been very special over the last few years.

“We know we’re very privileged with the location. The growth of the event, popularity, the interest, knowledge, sharing of the sport in the market, has really grown. With that has also been the investment and opportunity to bring bigger, better shows.”

She added: “It’s really led the way for a lot of our other events in terms of entertainment and how we can really bring the sport into a slightly different phase to the business. So it’s been great.”

The all-electric racing series was launched in 2014 with 10 teams competing against each other in 11 races across 10 locations. In the ongoing 2024-25 campaign, Formula E’s 11th season, 11 teams are taking part in 17 races in 11 different countries.

In that time, Lingley has seen how fan engagement has grown across the growing number of events.

“I think, from a fan’s perspective, what we’ve seen is just knowledge growth in the market,” she said.

“In many of our events, people are still getting to know Formula E. But I think really from a fan’s perspective, through the entertainment and engaging and driving fans to come to our events for more than just motorsport, it has been really great. And also from a VIP perspective with celebrities and influencers, and we’ve had celebrity chefs in our Emotion Club hospitality.

“The beauty of our hospitality experience is that you’re mixing with those CEOs, celebs and influencers within that same space. So it really feels quite interactive and engaging. And that has only just grown year on year.”

Lingley and her team expect the two races in Jeddah to be the biggest of the Formula E calendar, as they were in Diriyah.

She said: “I think for us, the Saudi Arabia event for VIP hospitality is definitely our largest out of the calendar season. For context, that’s 3,500 guests in our Emotion Club as opposed to 1,000 we have in most other markets. So I think that really shows that level of engagement and excitement there. Jeddah Corniche Circuit I think will help facilitate that scale of guest attendance and help us grow it for future seasons as well.

“I think that with our ambitions to grow the entertainment program, and the fan-focused experiences also, it’s a fantastic venue that’s only going to help us (improve) that as well.”

The larger Jeddah crowds can expect plenty of post-race entertainment, as attendees in recent years have experienced.

Lingley added: “I think our concerts over the years have equally only grown in popularity and have developed and improved. With the Backstreet Boys, completely iconic, last season, but also Martin Garrix and OneRepublic, amongst many other names we’ve had over the seasons.”

This year, the post-race concerts are to be headlined by Akon and Lil Baby on consecutive nights.

With the Jeddah E-Prix now less than a week away, Lingley and her team are fully focused on another hectic weekend, when all their planning and preparation comes to fruition.

She said: “We’re live on race day. We’re hosting. This is the day that we’re kind of gearing up for.

“It’s not like many departments in the business, which should be ‘feet up’ if everything’s gone well. For us, that is the day where it all comes together. So for me, that’s supporting the team with opening the gates on time, ensuring that everything’s prepared, making sure of everyone’s reserved areas.

“The nuances of all of those guest experiences are ironed out in those itineraries for all of the client groups, (including) the behind-the-scenes tours, electric laps, grid procedures.

“We’ve got enough staff and everyone’s briefed well. But to be honest, (race day) is spending a lot of time talking to a lot of people, whether that’s our staff or the guests, our team’s partner sponsors, just making sure everyone’s got all the support they could possibly need. All being well, I spend a lot of time talking, which is not a challenge for me.”

Beyond attendances at events, Lingley says the popularity of Formula E continues to rise globally, thanks to the expansion into new markets, especially in Asia.

She said: “I’ve been in Formula E for 10 years now, just over, so I’ve really seen that curve of engagement and how the championship has grown exponentially.

“It’s truly impressive how it’s grown year on year, and I think despite challenges with COVID-19, for the nature of the business that we were and the age we were as a company, it’s impressive and incredible how much we’ve continued to grow.

“What I see on the hospitality side in particular is that we’ve never had more external engagement to want to get into our events. Historically we’ve always been geared towards our sponsors, championship teams, our partners, because they’re our primary audience.

“But what’s really exciting about season 11 and beyond is just the nature and interest of B2C, B2B, other companies, and just individuals who want to pay to come and have that exclusive experience, and I think that really says everything.” 


GCC teams gear up for Asian Le Mans at Dubai Autodrome

Updated 07 February 2025
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GCC teams gear up for Asian Le Mans at Dubai Autodrome

  • Two races scheduled for Feb. 8-9 with 47 cars expected to line up on the grid

DUBAI: The UAE and Qatar will be among the countries represented in a strong line-up as Dubai Autodrome prepares to stage the Asian Le Mans races this weekend.

UAE-based team Dragon Racing, along with Herberth Motorsport’s 911 team, featuring an all-Qatari crew of Ibrahim Al-Abdulghani, Abdulla Al-Khelaifi and Ghanim Al-Ali, will be among the 47 cars on the grid for the two four-hour races on Feb. 8-9.

Dragon Racing will enter a pair of Ferrari 296 GT3s for those races, with Todd Coleman, Benjamin Pedersen and Aaron Tellitz behind the wheel. Team-mates Marco Pulcini, Nicola Marinangeli and Giacomo Altoe will be in the other car.

Besides the GT category, which includes championship leaders Winward Racing, the event also features LMP2 and LMP3 categories with 10 and seven cars, respectively, set to compete on both days.

Entry to the event is free. Away from the track there will be entertainment and food and beverage options for fans to enjoy.

Faisal Al Sahlawi, general manager of Dubai Autodrome, said: “The Dubai Autodrome had its first taste of the Asian Le Mans Series in 2021 and since then, the event has grown rapidly to be one of our major racing championships. The fact there are 47 teams participating this weekend signifies how highly regarded the event is.

“The races will also see the Gulf region being represented through UAE and Qatar — which showcases the popularity of the sport in the region again and giving them a platform to test themselves against international teams.

“Previous editions proved to be a big success and this weekend’s races will be no different as some of the world’s best GT drivers test themselves on a challenging 5.39km circuit that not only sees them take on the high-speed straights but also the corners — all of which paves the way to a great weekend of elite motorsport racing action.”


Bakhashab clinches Hail Legends Rally title

Updated 02 February 2025
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Bakhashab clinches Hail Legends Rally title

HAIL: Saudi rally driver Abdullah Bakhashab and French co-driver Sebastien Delaunay stormed to a commanding victory in the second and final stage of the Legends Rally in Hail on Saturday.

Bakhashab set the pace in the Toyota Hilux from the start with an impressive time of 04:40:10. The duo set the fastest time in each stage in a dominant performance.

Despite the dramatic victory, it was Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Faisal who captured the headlines after an accident shortly before the end of the second stage in which his vehicle rolled over.

He was able to continue, with he and co-driver Pablo Morena of Spain finishing in fourth with a time of 05:48:24.

Second overall position went to Essa Al-Dosari with a time of 05:30:53, while veteran Saudi driver Ahmed Al-Sabban secured third with 05:45:05.

Speaking after the race, Bakhashab said he was delighted to win the Legends category, part of this year’s Hail Toyota International Rally, but that the victory was unexpected given his 15-year absence from rallying.

“I was following a strategy of taking my time so that I could pass Prince Khaled and the rest of my colleagues, and thank God I succeeded and was able to arrive first and win the title,” he said.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan congratulated Bakhashab, saying: “Abdullah was able to win the challenge with his experience, and this is not strange for him as a champion with titles and achievements.”

On his accident, he added: “Thank God we came out of this race safely, and I promise you that we will be crowned in the next rally. The challenge is still on with Bakhashab and the other competitors.”


Overdrive Racing’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi claims eighth victory at Hail Rally

Updated 01 February 2025
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Overdrive Racing’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi claims eighth victory at Hail Rally

HAIL: Overdrive Racing’s Yazeed Al-Rajhi followed up his recent Dakar Rally victory with an eighth career success in the Hail Toyota International Rally (Saudi Baja) on Saturday.

The Toyota Hilux driver won the event five times in its longer format before 2020 and since then has won in 2022, 2024 and 2025. His German co-driver Timo Gottschalk won the longer rally with Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah in 2011 and has now taken won with Al-Rajhi in 2015, 2016, 2024 and 2025. The duo lead the 2025 FIA World Baja Cup after the opening round.

Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini and his Spanish co-driver Dani Oliveras kept the pressure on Al-Rajhi for long periods of the three-day event on a new route through the north-central deserts of Saudi Arabia, eventually finishing second in their Toyota Hilux, 5 minutes 49 seconds behind the Dakar winner.

Dania Akeel and Stephane Duple — hoping to defend Akeel’s 2024 FIA Middle East Baja Cup title — finished third to give Overdrive Racing a clean sweep of the podium places.

A prologue of 5.76km determined the start order for the opening special stage over a new route through the An-Nafud desert. Al-Rajhi set the pace with a run of 3:56, beating Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah by eight seconds. Yacopini and Akeel came fourth and sixth respectively.

Al-Rajhi started the opening 260km from ninth on the road and made his favorable starting position count with the fastest time. The Saudi beat Yacopini by 1:35 to take the lead with Akeel in third, 3:48 adrift.

There was no late drama for Al-Rajhi, who won the final 160km stage by 4:14 to secure victory.

The 2025 FIA World Baja Cup continues with the Jordan Baja in Aqaba on April 10.

2025 Saudi Baja unofficial result:

Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 4:28:15*

Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG)/Daniel Oliveras (ESP) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 4:34:04*

Dania Akeel (SAU)/Stephane Duple (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 4:38:26+

Khalifa Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Dmytro Tsyro (UKR) Taurus T3 Max 4:39:51+

Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Alexander Toril (ESP) G Rally Team OT3 4:45:12+

Ahmed Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Augusto Sanz (ARG) Taurus T3 Max 4:46:17+

Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Michal Goleniewski (POL) Ford F-150 4:53:28*

Hamza Bakhashab (SAU)/Marcin Pasek (POL) Can-Am Maverick R 4:54:21+

Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) Taurus T3 Max 4:56:25+

Sergei Remennik (ARE)/Aleksei Ignatov (KGZ) Taurus T3 Max 4:58:28*

* registered for FIA World Cup

+ registered for FIA Middle East Cup


Nasser Al-Attiyah praises success of motorsport in Saudi Arabia

Updated 31 January 2025
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Nasser Al-Attiyah praises success of motorsport in Saudi Arabia

  • Qatari rally driver attends Hail Rally ‘to run and support’ his new team, Nasser Racing)
  • Team has eight cars in rally, with four drivers from Qatar, one from Portugal, two from the UAE and one from Saudi Arabia

HAIL: Qatari rally driver Nasser Al-Attiyah told Arab News on Friday that he is happy to be present at the 20th edition of the Hail Rally, a race he has won twice in the past.
This time, however, Al-Attiyah is here not as a driver, but to run and support his team, Nasser Racing.
“I have eight cars here to be driven by four drivers from Qatar, one from Portugal, two from the United Arab Emirates and one from Saudi Arabia,” he said. “I am so happy to have a group of such good drivers with Nasser Racing here in Hail and I hope they win this special rally.”
He continued: “The Hail Rally is one of the most beautiful rallies and the organization is amazing. There is great interest from the emir of the region and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, and there is a great turnout from the people of Hail, who are (true) rally lovers. They have a great rally culture. I congratulate them on the 20th anniversary.”
The Qatari sports icon praised the support of the Saudi government and SAMF for high-level motorsport, noting that Saudi Arabia has become a fixture on the calendar.
“During the last five years, we can see major changes in the Kingdom related to motorsport. For us, as competitive drivers, we feel lucky to take part in major races here in our second home. Motorsport is really gaining popularity and we can see many young people joining the sport,” he said.
Discussing the latest edition of the Dakar Rally, which took place earlier this month, and in which Al-Attiyah came fourth, he said: “It was an amazing and tough rally. Unfortunately, we could not fight for the podium because we had a new car, However, we were happy. We had a good performance, but a new car always needs time”.
The five-time Dakar champion promised he would be back to fight for top spot in next year’s rally, adding that he is determined to keep competing in order to win more titles and break new records.