Welcome back to the historic town of Diriyah in Saudi Arabia's capital city Riyadh. With the Season 8 opener taking place on January 28 and 29, here's all you need to know about the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship's host city ahead of the ultimate duel in the desert.
Regal surroundings
In 1745, Diriyah was named the capital and original seat of power for the Kingdom’s Al Saud family, when the First Saudi State (or Emirate of Diriyah) was formed just a year earlier.
Rich history
Known for its striking yet simple mud-brick architecture, the former capital was formed on the oasis that spilt from the banks of Wadi Hanifa.
Once home to a thriving desert city, that was a powerhouse of culture and commerce, Diriyah was a crossroads for pilgrims and traders until the city fell in 1818, giving way to modern Riyadh.
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Significant streets
The old town - marked by the ruins of At-Turaif - was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, and the area has since been the subject of a restoration plan aimed at bringing its historical legacy back to life. With much of the site making up the backdrop of the race, Diriyah is a different (and historical) take on city street racing.
Light it up
The latest low consumption LED technology will light up the circuit for the night races, with the required energy for the lighting (and the rest of the event) coming from a fully renewable source, in the form of high performing low-carbon certified hydrogenated vegetable oil and biodiesel.
Tricky track
The circuit is one of the most challenging on the calendar, with a fast sequence of downhill corners characterising the first half of the lap and the desert sand making dirty sections of the track all the more challenging.
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Fly like Bird
Sam Bird is the most successful driver in Diriyah, with two wins in five races. Stoffel Vandoorne has also been on the podium twice, but has never won here. Alexander Sims is the only repeat pole-sitter, when he started at the front for both races in Season 6.