Ajith Kumar to compete with Ajith Kumar Racing as Asian Le Mans Series headlines opening edition
Abu Dhabi, February 2026: Yas Marina Circuit has announced the launch of Yas Speed Festival 2026, a new community-driven motorsport festival celebrating speed, culture and connection. The festival will take place across two editions in February, with the inaugural edition running from 7–8 February, followed by a second edition on 21 February.
Positioned as a multi-edition festival that brings together elite racing championships and immersive off-track experiences, Yas Speed Festival reinforces Yas Marina Circuit’s role as a hub for motorsport culture and community engagement in the UAE.
The first edition of Yas Speed Festival will deliver an action-packed weekend of competitive racing and community-focused entertainment, headlined by the Asian Le Mans Series, one of the world’s leading endurance racing championships. Featuring international teams and cutting-edge prototype and GT machinery, the series will bring high-performance endurance racing to the heart of Abu Dhabi.
Adding further profile to the Asian Le Mans Series grid, Ajith Kumar will compete at Yas Speed Festival as both driver and team founder, racing under his own banner, Ajith Kumar Racing. A respected figure in international motorsport, Kumar’s participation underscores the festival’s ability to attract high-calibre talent while strengthening its appeal to motorsport fans across the region.
Ajith Kumar, Founder and Driver, Ajith Kumar Racing, said: “I’m looking forward to competing in the Asian Le Mans Series at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit. I recently raced there so I’m excited to be returning but this time behind the wheel of an LMP3 with my own team, Ajith Kumar Racing.”
Additional on-track championships include the Gulf ProCar Championship and Gulf Radical Cup, offering fans a diverse and dynamic motor sport programme across the weekend.
Beyond the circuit, the festival will showcase Yas Motor Majlis, a large-scale automotive gathering featuring more than 400 cars, celebrating regional car culture and bringing together enthusiasts, collectors, and families in a vibrant social setting.
Aligned with the UAE’s Year of the Family, Yas Speed Festival is designed as a family-friendly, inclusive festival that extends beyond motorsport fans to the wider community.
Visitors can enjoy a range of experiences, including:
- Family-friendly ticket packages
- A dedicated kids’ play area
- Festival Fan Zone and interactive activations
- A curated selection of food trucks
- General Admission access to the Main Grandstand
For guests seeking premium experience, VIP hospitality options will be available, including suite viewing areas offering exceptional trackside perspectives.
With its combination of elite racing, grassroots car culture, and off-track entertainment, Yas Speed Festival aims to drive community participation, encourage shared experiences, and attract visitors of all ages to Yas Marina Circuit.
ABOUT YAS MARINA CIRCUIT:
Yas Marina Circuit is the United Arab Emirates’ most exciting sporting and entertainment multi-purpose venue. Located on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the circuit is home to the annual FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX and much more. In addition to the extensive year-round program of professional and grassroots motorsport events and experiences including Drag and Yas Track Nights, the circuit has emerged as a thriving hub for entertainment and community events in the UAE.
Yas Marina Circuit is also a champion of sustainability in motorsports, receiving the Three-Star Environmental Certification from the FIA, the governing body’s highest recognition of sustainability. The award is an acknowledgement of the circuit’s long-standing commitment to environmental management with the objective of standing with Formula One in becoming Net-Zero Carbon by 2030.
As the region’s most technologically advanced facility, the circuit is also a leading MICE venue, regularly hosting a diverse range of corporate meetings, conferences, and events. Whether you want to experience the thrill of karting at our Kartzone, driving an Aston Martin GT4 at over 200km/hour on an F1 circuit, work towards your racing license at the Yas Racing School, get fit at TrainYas, participate in one of our many sporting events, or simply catch up with friends at Yas Central, Yas Marina Circuit truly is The Meeting Place of Champions.
