ABB FIA Formula E World Championship announces rookie free practice session at Jeddah E-Prix

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship announced on Tuesday a rookie free practice session designed for drivers who have never raced in the championship, as part of the Jeddah E-Prix. (Supplied)
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Updated 28 January 2025
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ABB FIA Formula E World Championship announces rookie free practice session at Jeddah E-Prix

  • ‘It’s a crucial next step in fulfilling our commitment to nurturing the next generation of racing talent,’ says chief championship officer
  • Teams must nominate driver, allocate race car number 7 days prior to event

JEDDAH: The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship announced on Tuesday a rookie free practice session designed for drivers who have never raced in the championship, as part of the Jeddah E-Prix.
Scheduled for Feb. 13, the 40-minute session will provide experienced racing talent from other motorsport championships valuable track time to discover the new, groundbreaking technology of the Formula E GEN3 Evo car.
Alberto Longo, Formula E’s co-founder and chief championship officer, said: “Following on from the success of our official women’s test in November, we’re thrilled to introduce this dedicated rookie free practice session at the Jeddah E-Prix.
“It’s a crucial next step in fulfilling our commitment to nurturing the next generation of racing talent, including young women.”
The opportunity to drive the cutting-edge GEN3 Evo car will, according to Longo, provide invaluable experience for young drivers, and “we believe it will significantly contribute to developing the future stars of Formula E and motorsport as a whole.”
Pablo Martino, the head of the Formula E Championship, said: “It’s crucial for the FIA to allow drivers to develop their careers through FIA world championships, and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has one of the most competitive grids around.”
Teams must nominate a driver and allocate a race car number seven days prior to the event, meaning the lineup will be revealed in the coming weeks.
The initiative follows the successful inaugural women’s test in Madrid, and further emphasizes the dedication of Formula E and the FIA to creating diverse and inclusive pathways for the next generation of racing drivers.


Al-Ahli confirm Asian Champions League Elite progress with emphatic 5-0 win over Al-Shorta

Updated 23 December 2025
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Al-Ahli confirm Asian Champions League Elite progress with emphatic 5-0 win over Al-Shorta

  • Al-Ahli are joined in the next round by Tractor, who claimed ‌a 2-1 win over Qatar’s Al-Duhail ‍through a late goal by ‍Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh
  • The first eight finishers in the league phases in east and west Asia advance to the round of ‌16, which will be played in March, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final in Saudi Arabia in April

BAGHDAD: Defending champions Al-Ahli cruised to a 5-0 win over Al-Shorta in Baghdad on Monday as the Saudi Pro League side confirmed their progress to the knockout rounds ​of the Asian Champions League Elite alongside Iran’s Tractor FC.

Goals from Roger Ibanez, Ivan Toney, Galeno, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat and Ziyad Al-Johani sealed a comfortable win for Matthias Jaissle’s side, who moved on to 13 points from six matches to guarantee a top-eight finish in the 12-team standings.

“We did well today and we go home with three points,” ‌Ibanez said. “That’s ‌the important part.”

Ibanez gave Al-Ahli the ‌lead ⁠when ​he converted ‌Toney’s cut-back in the 30th minute and the former Brentford striker doubled the lead when he raced onto a pass through the middle by Galeno soon after the restart.

Galeno converted from a tight angle and Al-Shamat and Al-Johani netted in the closing stages as Al-Ahli bounced back from a surprise loss to Sharjah ⁠FC last month.

Al-Ahli are joined in the next round by Tractor, who claimed ‌a 2-1 win over Qatar’s Al-Duhail ‍through a late goal by ‍Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh.

Benjamin Bourigeaud had given Al-Duhail a 35th-minute lead from ‍the penalty spot but Shojae Khalilzadeh levelled the scores and Hosseinzadeh hit the winner two minutes into stoppage time.

Tractor moved on to 14 points and second in the table behind Al-Hilal who recorded ​a sixth consecutive win in the competition with a 1-0 victory over Sharjah in the UAE.

Simone ⁠Inzaghi’s side had already confirmed their place in the next phase and picked up another three points when Malcom struck with nine minutes remaining.

Al-Gharafa kept their qualification hopes alive through a 1-0 win over Al-Wahda from the UAE with Seydou Sano scoring an 87th-minute winner for the Qatari side.

Al-Gharafa climbed to six points and ninth in the table while Al-Wahda, who have qualified, dropped to fourth.

The first eight finishers in the league phases in east and west Asia advance to the round of ‌16, which will be played in March, with the quarteRfinals, semifinals and final in Saudi Arabia in April.