Formula E will make its Season 5 debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December, hitting the Middle East for the first time.
As part of a 10-year agreement with the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, the Formula E races will take place in Riyadh's Ad Diriyah district. Also debuting is the series' new Gen2 cars, capable of higher energy capacity than its predecessor Spark-Renault SRT-01E with aerodynamic improvements and a 250kW max on the circuit.
"Saudi Arabia is looking to the future, and Formula E is the motorsport of the future," said Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal al Saud, vice-chair of the GSA, in a statement. "It aligns perfectly with the country's 2030 vision and offers the prospect of world-class racing on the streets of the capital for the first time in our history."
Formula E's latest venture into the Middle East makes the Kingdom's aggressive efforts to promote non-oil activities into the region, reducing its dependence on oil under the leadership of new ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The country has also shored up its electrification and human rights efforts, with plans to invest up to $50 billion in renewable energy by 2023 and allowing female participation in the event, in a capacity to be determined.
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