You would expect Saudi to go all out and not let themselves be outdone on spectacle by Miami and Vegas, but this is more than even I expected. That turn one is straight out of Mario Kart.

  • gerryflap@feddit.nl
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    10 months ago

    Damn that elevated track does look futuristic. Very Wipeout-esque. I do wonder how they want to make sure that the cars don’t tumble down in case of an accident. And also how to retrieve cars that get stuck there somehow due to failures or crashes. I also hope they manage to fix their human rights issues before then, preferably sooner

    • CoelacanthOP
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      10 months ago

      Looks like a logistical and safety nightmare, but I’m sure Saudi will find a way to throw money at it and make it pass the requirements. Helicopters to extract crashed cars instead of cranes?

      I found another article with the planned layout, over 100 meters of elevation changes on this thing.

      • Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I am sure they can just get a guy in a cloud to put the cars back on track.

        I actually kind of like the layout now that I’ve seen it top down. I wonder who designed it.

        • CoelacanthOP
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          10 months ago

          It’s a Tilke design. I know he gets a lot of hate, but we know he can do good work, especially when he gets free reign to play with elevation changes (which isn’t often, granted). COTA is a top 5 track on the calendar, in my opinion.

          This Qiddiya track looks like one of his more interesting attempts, I’m really curious to see how it plays out in a race. Some of those sweeping sections being on a steep uphill incline look sick.