What autonomous racing teaches self-driving cars

Same car, different brain

Every team at Imola ran identical hardware. The EAV-25 is built on a Dallara SF23 Super Formula chassis and fitted with 15 sensors including lidar, cameras, radar and GPS, all feeding a computer where a driver's eyes and ears would normally be.

The entire competition was in the software, challenging how each team's system perceived the track, planned a route, decided when to commit to an overtake and controlled the car at the limit of grip.

Think of it like Ferrari strategists chasing a podium place without Lewis Hamilton, leaving coders to pop the champagne.

Of the five teams that took part —  Kinetiz of the UAE, Constructor Racing and TUM from Germany, and PoliMOVE and Unimore from Italy — PoliMOVE's car hit 156mph (252.3km/h), Unimore's set the fastest lap, started from pole and led. Then came the drama.

The autonomous on-track action

Hitting technical problems and slowing dramatically on track, Unimore’s car became the racing equivalent of a vehicle stopping dead in the fast lane of a motorway. PoliMOVE was running close behind and couldn't avoid a collision. Both were immediately eliminated. 

TUM, the two-time defending champions, had already suffered a problem on the formation lap. Kinetiz took the win, with Constructor Racing second.

Curiously, a car unexpectedly stopping on a blind approach catches out human drivers too, and it could happen on a Hillclimb, at Le Mans or on the M40. The software got most things right, but was met by something arguably unavoidable.

Why race them at all?

Racing driverless cars is a way of breaking things on purpose, and having a little bit of fun in the process.

Every problem an autonomous racing car encounters at 150mph — a sudden obstacle, a car behaving unpredictably, grip disappearing mid-corner — is a problem a road-going autonomous car will eventually encounter at 30mph on a wet Tuesday.

Here it’s compressed, repeatable and happening somewhere with gravel traps and marshals. The teams are university labs and startups, and the code they write at Imola has a habit of showing up in road vehicles a few years later.

So, will anyone watch? Motorsport's appeal has always been partly about the human on the edge of success or failure, and our brains are wired for exactly that kind of narrative.

Take away Lewis Hamilton, and you’re left with an elaborate physics demonstration. Then again, nobody thought anyone would watch people play video games either…

Randox is a global leader in diagnostics, revolutionising patient outcomes through innovative technologies, including its patented biochip technology. This pioneering diagnostic platform allows for the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers from a single sample, delivering faster, more accurate, and comprehensive results. Operating in over 145 countries, Randox develops advanced laboratory instruments, high-quality reagents, and innovative testing solutions to improve global healthcare.

Randox Health brings this cutting-edge technology directly to individuals, offering bespoke, preventative health testing programs. With world-class laboratories and personalised health insights, Randox Health enables early detection of a wide range of conditions, helping individuals take control of their health.

Together, Randox and Randox Health are redefining diagnostics and preventative healthcare. For more information, visit www.randox.com and www.randoxhealth.com.

Images courtesy of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League.

The 2027 Festival of Speed will take place on 15th-18th July 2027, sign up for ticket alerts to make sure you don't miss out. Tickets are available for GRRC Members and Fellows, you can join the Fellowship today.