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TECH PROFILE
ABB FIA FORMULA E WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: 2021 DIRIYAH E-PRIX SAUDI ARABIA HOSTS FORMULA E’S FIRST EVER NIGHT RACES IN THE HISTORIC SURROUNDINGS OF DIRIYAH.
The 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship got underway on 26-27 February, with a doubleheader in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Returning to the UNESCO World Heritage site for the third season in a row, this year saw the first ever Formula E night races, with the latest low-power LED technology being utilised to create a spectacular show while reducing energy consumption by up to 50% compared to most non-LED technology. Conducting the planning and organisation of the event once again was STAMiNA Productions, while the Ministry of Sports (MOS) appointed Blink Experience to handle the host city scope. Working closely with stakeholders Formula E (FE), MOS, Saudi Arabian Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and the promoter, CBX, the team was able to “achieve the impossible” and hold this world-class international event in the middle of a global pandemic. Jennifer Gazeas, Head of Venue Design, Track and Overlay for the Diriyah E-Prix at STAMiNA Productions, explained how the team adapted to the ever-changing COVID-19 situation. “We shared a goal of holding the first ever night race for Formula E,” she began. “Holding the majority of meetings on Zoom, we all made it work and showed that with these tools, we can still plan together and show incredible resilience and professionalism.” She added: “This project needed to be meticulously planned, defined, implemented and executed with
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the objective of delivering the greatest experience for the fans attending and watching on TV. There were over seven months of design work, including extensive civil works consultation with the local authorities for the track resurfacing programme, track lighting and planning a COVID-19 safe event.” The Saudi-based agency brought onboard a number of trusted suppliers for the project, including ADI, Empro and MediaPro International. “The list of global and local suppliers that worked with us is extensive – each one brings their own individual experience and technical expertise which, when combined, allowed us to bring the impossible to fruition,” stated Gazeas. “There are always last-minute changes, and it’s then when you need a family of suppliers to call upon who are proactive, fully committed and supportive. At STAMiNA, our suppliers and partners are as important as our personnel and if there is a need for support for any contractor to allow them to do their best, then we will always provide that support.” As is to be expected on such a high-profile, international event, Formula E and the governing body of motorsport, the FIA, set strict controls to manage the risk of COVID-19. “It was up to us in partnership with the MOS, FE and SAMF to ensure that these controls were managed and exceeded,” Gazeas commented. To that end, the site adopted a ‘bubble’ approach. A number
