Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League Hits Milestone In High-Speed Autonomous Car Racing

The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) has taken a significant leap forward in the realm of autonomous car racing, with its second full-scale event in November 2025 marking a major milestone. Two decades after Stanford University’s “Stanley” won the DARPA Grand Challenge, navigating 132 miles of desert terrain, the A2RL has set its sights on a far more complex goal: multi-car competition at 150mph around a track.

This ambitious endeavor has drawn the attention of team leaders and enthusiasts alike, with some speculating that A2RL could one day surpass the thrill of Formula One. Stéphane Timpano, CEO of A2RL, acknowledges the enormity of the challenge, stating that the league is “playing with things that nobody really knows how to make work at scale.” The development of an autonomous kit, training software, and integrating middleware and hardware in a car capable of reaching 250kph has been a daunting task.

Despite initial setbacks, including a partially successful race in April 2024 and a crash during an exhibition in Japan, the A2RL has made significant strides. The league has partnered with teams, such as Code19 Racing, founded by US Army Intelligence veterans Lawrence Walter and O G Wells.