Qualification for A2RL Season 2 Reaches Thrilling Conclusion

A2RL held a very demanding multistage qualification process this October to determine the starting order of the Grand Final and Silver Race.

Pace qualification was a critical step toward the real-world race, which would take place in front of thousands of fans in less than a month. The aim? Lap the track as fast as possible.

It’s one thing to race around the circuit solo; it’s another to jostle wheel-to-wheel with other AI competitors. The second phase was the Multi-Car Qualification- a more complex test held on the 20th of October, four days after Pace Qualification. Its purpose was to verify that the teams’ AI drivers could race fairly in a complex environment with several vehicles racing at once.

After Pace Qualification and Multi-Car Qualification, one team emerged on top – German team, and current A2RL Champion, TUM has taken pole position for the Grand Final.

Pace Qualification: Autonomous Lap Record!

There was a distinct highlight from each stage of qualification, with a new autonomous lap record and a stunning display of AI skill.

During Pace Qualification, Unimore from Italy set a new autonomous lap record for the Yas Marina North Circuit of 59.11 seconds – breaking through the one-minute ‘barrier’. This was also faster than lap times collected during data gathering with a professional race car driver, which came in at 59.30 seconds.

Wheel-to-Wheel Action as TUM Takes Control

Multi-Car Qualification is where teams were truly tested. This qualification stage used three-car sprint races to put the teams’ AI drivers to the test. TUM completed a bold overtake in autonomous sport with a stunning maneuver on rival Unimore.

Despite beating their own lap record with a blistering 58.87-second pace, Unimore was unable to regain position, leading to reigning A2RL Champion TUM claiming pole position for the Grand Final on the 15th of November.

The full grid order for the Grand Final is:

Season 2 Performance Takes Shape

All eleven teams have made remarkable progress during the testing and qualification phases of A2RL Season 2. The starting order for the Grand Final and Silver Race are now established. You can see the complete grid order, including which teams are taking place in each race, below.