The UAE’s Kinetiz secured first place in the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League’s inaugural international event according to a report from the Emirates News Agency. Kinetiz’s autonomous vehicle finished the race at Italy’s historic Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari nearly 11 seconds ahead of the field on September 6 2026. Germany’s Constructor Racing took second place while Italy’s Unimore Racing claimed third a WAM dispatch indicated. Italy’s PoliMOVE finished fourth after two of its cars collided during the event and Germany’s TUM rounded out the five-team field.
A2RL organised by ASPIRE the technology transition arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council had staged its prior seasons exclusively at Yas Marina Circuit. The series advanced from a four-car demonstration in 2024 to six cars competing wheel-to-wheel at speeds surpassing 250 kilometres per hour the following year ASPIRE figures show. This expansion to Imola represented the first time the autonomous racing technology was tested on a European circuit according to league planning documents.
Technical University of Munich had won the A2RL titles in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons according to official league records. The 2025 edition at Yas Marina featured 11 international teams competing for a 2.25 million dollar prize pool and included a human versus AI exhibition with former Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat a report from the ATRC noted. Kinetiz itself had placed fourth in that 2025 competition before prevailing at the Italian venue.
Kinetiz team principal Omar Hanif Alqassim said “It is a very proud moment for all of us at Kinetiz to win A2RL’s first international race and most importantly to represent the UAE on an international stage.” He added “We’re proud to bring this victory home and to be part of representing the UAE’s ambition and capabilities on the global stage.” ASPIRE CEO Stephane Timpano stated “Congratulations to team Kinetiz from the UAE on a well-earned victory.”
Imola presented a heightened challenge for the autonomous systems by requiring wheel-to-wheel racing in an unfamiliar setting an ASPIRE assessment found. The competition produced important data to support further research and development of the technology Timpano added in remarks carried by motorsport outlets. The 2026 A2RL season will conclude with a return to Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi following this European milestone according to the organiser’s schedule.
