The iconic Suzuka Circuit in Japan is set to host the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) in a ‘Man vs Machine showdown’ next month when autonomous cars race against a human driver to showcase the advancement of AI in motorsports.
The exhibition race will take place on the Super Formula double-header season finale on November 9-10. A2RL has partnered with Japan Race Promotion to pit two Super Formula race cars against each other in a head-to-head. Behind the wheel of one car will be former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, A2RL’s development driver. The second car will be controlled entirely by advanced AI and robotics.
The race car will be the Dallara SF23, which is already a local hero as it is currently used in Japan’s top tier Super Formula racing series. A2RL’s states that its version of the car, in the hands of Super Formula drivers, is the “fastest sub-F1 racing car in the world”. The vehicle uses a host of advanced sensors and systems to enable fully autonomous racing, including seven cameras, four radar sensors, three lidar sensors, and a computational ‘stack’ in place of the driver.
The teams behind the ‘Man vs Machine’ event are already on the ground in Japan, completing a test to collect important data and prepare for the race. This event also marks A2RL’s first public race outside Abu Dhabi, following its debut in April this year. During the inaugural race, eight international teams competed in autonomous racing for a share of the US$2.25m prize.
A2RL is also expanding into new territories and has recently completed a European testing program with Japanese rising star Juju Noda behind the wheel.
Stephane Timpano, CEO at A2RL, said, “Pitting human against machine is the ultimate test for AI-driven technology, especially when racing against Daniil Kvyat, a former Formula 1 driver who knows this circuit so well. I have no doubt the fans are in for an electrifying showcase of autonomous racing at its best.”
Yoshihisa Ueno, CEO of Japan Race Promotion, said, “To now see it race in this groundbreaking exhibition — one car driven by a human, the other by AI — is both fascinating and exciting. We are pleased to welcome A2RL to the world-famous Suzuka Circuit and look forward to the highly anticipated ‘Man vs Machine’ event.”