Qualifying: Friday

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From the start, the new pairing showed front-running speed, posting P1 and P3 in their respective practice sessions despite the changeable conditions. The team then progressed comfortably through the Qualifying Time Trials and into the new knockout format however a disrupted lap saw the team finish the session seventh, placing Martí in position 4 for Saturday’s opening race.

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Race Day: Saturday

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Race day began with early drama as Martí suffered a battery system shutdown moments before her first race, forcing her to sit out the opening round. This left Wyatt starting last in the team’s second group race. He turned the situation around with a perfect start and smart strategy, winning the heat and securing direct entry for Team Alula into the finals - a first for the team.

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In Final 1, Martí delivered a flawless start and another storming performance, also setting the fastest lap of her race. Wyatt started P3 in Final 2 but had to take avoiding action in the first corner, put him to the back. Undeterred, he battled back and with an on-going smart strategy helped the team secure third place overall behind Team Brady and event winners, Aoki Racing Team.

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John Marlow, Co-Team Principal, Team AlUla: “We are extremely proud of our performance in Jeddah. To start the season with a podium and match our best result from last year in the very first race is a great reward for all the work that’s been put in by the whole team during the off-season. It wasn’t a perfect weekend, but that gives us valuable learning as we prepare for the European rounds. Last year was about building our foundations, this year is about delivering, and this is a very positive way to begin.”

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Nerea Martí, Team AlUla Pilot: “I’m really happy with how the weekend went. I felt more comfortable with every session and I’m building a great relationship with the team and with Rusty. There is still a lot to learn, but we are on the right path. To score a podium in the first race of the season, and my first podium with the team, is amazing - I hope it’s the first of many!”

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Rusty Wyatt, Team AlUla Pilot: “It’s been a super eventful weekend. Winning our first group stage and going directly into the final was an absolute high. P3 here feels amazing and it’s been a huge team effort to get us there. We’ve shown all weekend - and throughout testing - that we have the pace; sometimes in this style of racing, the cards just don’t fall your way, but we maximized when and where we could.”

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Barny Whitwham, Co-Team Principal, Team AlUla: “Jeddah is a special race for the team, after launching here a year ago and racing to represent Alula. The support from fans on shore cheering this time round was a massive boost. Then following an amazing weekend of racing, it’s been fantastic to head up to AlUla, to introduce Nerea to the region, and cheer on the cycling team during the AlUla Tour. It’s an incredibly special place and it’s been great to see more of it.”

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Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James now heads to the next round in Lake Como, Italy (24–25 April), third in the overall season standings as the Championship continues its global tour.