Abu Dhabi hosts the world’s biggest autonomous race this weekend. Eleven teams arrived. Six made the Grand Final. On Saturday night, those six will race wheel-to-wheel for the A2RL Season 2 title at Yas Marina Circuit, in front of a full house.
On Sunday at 3 pm GST, viewers in the UAE can catch the broadcast on Abu Dhabi Media Network, StarzPlay, Motorsport TV and YouTube. Expect tight racing, a Human vs AI showcase with Daniil Kvyat, a busy fan zone and even a student robotics trophy handout.
- The A2RL Grand Final runs at Yas Marina on Saturday, 15 November, with a full main grandstand.
- First time six fully autonomous cars race head-to-head; 20 laps decide the Season 2 champion.
- Finalists: TUM, Unimore, Kinetiz, TII Racing, PoliMOVE, Constructor. TUM starts from pole.
- Human vs AI exhibition: former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat vs TUM.
- UAE broadcast is Sunday, 16 November at 3 pm GST on Abu Dhabi Media Network, StarzPlay, Motorsport TV and A2RL’s YouTube.
What is A2RL and why it matters
A2RL blends motorsport with AI research. Teams write the code. Cars drive themselves. The prize pool is US$2.25 million, and the goal is to push real-world autonomy under pressure. Season 2 has taken 18 months to shape, culminating at Yas Marina with a full main grandstand.
- World’s largest autonomous car race
- US$2.25m up for grabs
- 18 months of development into Season 2
- Event sells out the main grandstand
This is not a simulation. It’s live racing with real cars, where path-planning, perception and control algorithms decide who wins. The format lets researchers test high-speed decision-making around other cars, on a proper circuit, with pressure from fans and rivals.
Grand Final: the six-car showdown
For the first time, six fully autonomous race cars will compete wheel-to-wheel in a 20-lap sprint to the title. The finalists are TUM, Unimore, Kinetiz, TII Racing, PoliMOVE and Constructor. TUM starts from pole after edging Unimore in multi-car qualifying.
- Six teams on the grid
- 20-lap race to crown the champion
- TUM on pole after a hard fight with Unimore
- Germany, Italy and the UAE represented
If you want a form guide, our qualifying recap has the key moments, including TUM’s pace and the six-car grid confirmation. Read it here: A2RL S2 qualifying: TUM on pole, six-car final set.
The Human vs AI exhibition
There’s also a crowd-pleaser: former F1 racer Daniil Kvyat will go up against the reigning champions TUM in the Human vs AI showcase. In testing and quali, the gap has closed. Unimore even beat a benchmark lap set by a human pro. Expect the comparison to be closer than last season.
- Daniil Kvyat vs TUM in a head-to-head run
- Record testing pace this season
- Unimore beat a human set-lap in qualifying
These runs show how machine precision stacks up against human instinct at race speeds. It is a neat way to measure progress without the noise of multi-car traffic.
Silver Race: five more teams on track
The five remaining teams get their own race to lock in season standings and push their algorithms under pressure. Those entries are RAPSON, Code 19, Fly Eagle, FR4IAV and TGM Grand Prix.
- Separate Silver Race for the other five teams
- Same track environment and pressure
- Final classification on the line
It’s not the headline act, but it matters. Teams get live data and on-track time, which helps improve their stacks and prove consistency under race conditions.
How to watch in the UAE
The race day is Saturday, 15 November at Yas Marina Circuit. The broadcast goes out on Sunday, 16 November at 3 pm GST across Abu Dhabi Media Network, StarzPlay, Motorsport TV and A2RL’s YouTube channel. There’s also a live VR platform with car telemetry and track views.
- UAE time: Sunday, 16 Nov, 3 pm GST broadcast
- Where to watch: AD Media Network, StarzPlay, Motorsport TV, YouTube
- Optional: jump into A2RL’s live VR experience
If you’re setting up StarzPlay for the first time, our recent coverage of the new AD Media Network hub inside StarzPlay explains the move and supported devices: ADtv moves to StarzPlay on 4 November. For general StarzPlay updates in the UAE, see our guides here and here.
Fan zone, STEM awards and what else is on
Before the main event, Group 63 will roll out a Supercar Parade Laps display. A2RL will also award the student STEM competition trophies, where 140 UAE students raced AWS DeepRacer scale cars. Around the circuit, fans can try humanoid robot demos, interactive games and hands-on tech activations.
- Supercar parade to open the evening
- STEM awards for 140 students across the Emirates
- Humanoid robots, games and tech activations in the Fan Zone
Want the student story? We covered the build-up here: A2RL STEM Competition returns with 140 UAE students. And for the wider Autonomous Week news around Yas Marina, see: Tensor’s personal Robocar lands at DRIFTx Abu Dhabi.
FAQ
What time is the A2RL Grand Final and broadcast in the UAE?
The event runs on Saturday, 15 November at Yas Marina. The broadcast is on Sunday, 16 November at 3 pm GST across AD Media Network, StarzPlay, Motorsport TV and YouTube.
Which teams made the Grand Final?
TUM, Unimore, Kinetiz, TII Racing, PoliMOVE and Constructor.
How long is the race?
Twenty laps of Yas Marina Circuit for the title.
Who’s in the Silver Race?
RAPSON, Code 19, Fly Eagle, FR4IAV and TGM Grand Prix.
What’s the Human vs AI run?
An exhibition comparing a pro driver with an autonomous car. This year features former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat vs TUM, and testing has shown the gap tightening, with Unimore beating a human benchmark lap in qualifying.
