“Zero grandstands” Qiddiya Speed Park aiming to redefine fan experience

It will have beforehand been seen as one thing of a shock if a brand new motor-racing circuit introduced no grandstands can be constructed to accommodate spectators.

However for the promoters of Qiddiya Pace Park, it’s the subsequent step in altering the stay expertise for followers.

Qiddiya Metropolis launched in December 2023 and, as soon as full, might be half the scale of Singapore.

As a part of Saudi Imaginative and prescient 2030, it’s going to include theme parks, a stadium that can host FIFA World Cup fixtures in 2034 in addition to the brand new motorsport venue.

With hopes of internet hosting a number of collection when accomplished, the goal of 2027 continues to be in place, Qiddiya is aiming to face out from the pack.

Formula 1 driver Lando Norris is one of those who has been impressed by the “crazy” plans he has seen so far and, talking on the Autosport Enterprise Alternate: London, Abdulaziz Alaqel, government director of motorsport asset improvement for Qiddiya, revealed the most recent eye-catching design.

“What makes Qiddiya Pace Park completely different to another circuit on the earth? There are three components,” he mentioned.

“Primary, it’s a mix between being constructed as a observe and a road observe, or as we name it, the ‘metropolis loop’. This loop might be totally built-in inside Qiddiya Metropolis. At sure parts of the observe, the driving force might be racing alongside the tallest, quickest curler coaster ever constructed.

“Secondly, we could have zero grandstands, we’re pushing the design in terms of the followers and spectators. We could have completely different hospitality packages throughout the infield, the outfield and everywhere in the metropolis.

“The third vital level is that our observe is the one one that’s succesful to host all worldwide and elite motorsport championships, as examples, however not restricted to, System 1, System E, MotoGP, WEC and GT races – we have now 80 garages.”

The headline-grabber surrounding Qiddiya Pace Park development has been the Blade, which can eclipse the 22-metre elevation of Eau Rouge at Spa-Francorchamps.

“We’ve got 21 corners,” added Alaqel. “The well-known flip is primary, which is the Blade. It is elevated 70 metres above the bottom, equal to a 20-storey constructing with a slope of 10 levels.

“If you happen to take one lap of our observe, it isn’t flat. The whole elevation right here is round 108 metres.”

As with the vast majority of Saudi Imaginative and prescient tasks, the ambitions are grand and Andrew Mallery, government director of motorsport technique for Qiddiya, isn’t any completely different.

“Merely, the technique behind it’s to be sure that we put Saudi Arabia on the map as a world motorsport hub,” he mentioned.

“We’re leveraging leading edge infrastructure. We’re clearly aligning to worldwide requirements, however we’re taking it a step additional than that.

“We wish this to be an genuine motorsport vacation spot, so we’ll be partnering with manufacturers, with world influences, with automotive manufacturers, with motorsport manufacturers, to verify we convey that authenticity to Qiddiya Metropolis and improve motorsport all through Saudi Arabia.”