Having taken place in Diriyah for the past six years, the Saudi Arabian round of Formula E moved to Jeddah for the first time in 2025. Naturally, SELA and the Ministry of Sport (MOS) were keen to ensure that the event’s Jeddah debut made a big impression, and they tasked Groupe F with coming up with a spectacle befitting the occasion. “They were aiming very high, meaning that we needed to propose something that had never been seen before in Jeddah – or anywhere else for that matter,” recalled Groupe F’s Deputy Managing Director, Nicolas Chavance.
The resulting show comprised multiple elements, including a massive 2km-wide fireworks setup on the Red Sea facing Jeddah Corniche Circuit, fireworks deployed on three rooftop towers surrounding the circuit, a spectacular line of high-speed SFX tracking the winning car across the finish line, and a Guinness World Record-breaking 20 heavy payload pyro drones flying in formation to render two giant mid-air towers.
“When SELA and the MOS came to us asking for a super ambitious project, we knew from the beginning that it would be one-of-a-kind,” Chavance commented. “We had to manage wide angle and large-scale scenography at the same time with close-up effects. Groupe F’s expertise in the field of collaboration with TV broadcast is precious for that kind of environment. We were involved with other teams in the design, production and performance of four shows, two days in a row, opening and closing acts before and after races.”
As has become almost de rigueur for Saudi Arabia’s biggest shows, the event set a new Guinness World Record – this time for the most pyro effects from a drone. “Our drones can carry out 20 pyro effects at the same time, making them the biggest in the industry at the moment,” Chavance stated. “We used 20 of them to display two huge towers of fireworks, 500m high each, above the Red Sea.”
Describing the location as “like a three-layered cake”, Chavance ran through the challenges of the ambitious project. “The Jeddah Corniche and Circuit is a unique location to display shows,” he stated. “There’s the Red Sea, with 300m-deep water, waves and tides where super large-scale scenography is required. The circuit is always an interesting challenge to work at when it comes to managing the coactivity on a race weekend where proximity effects and close-up scenography is required. Then there’s the Jeddah skyline surrounding the circuit with tall towers, which required specific firework effects and the management of urban coactivity.”
A source of particular pride for Chavance was the accuracy of the show compared to the 3D renders created at the previsualisation stage. “You can compare a photo of the show with the 3D renderings and there’s no difference at all, which means that everyone, everywhere did their job and can be proud of the result,” he concluded. “The project was a success thanks to a smooth collaboration between all teams, the client and the authorities. Teamwork is always the key to success.”
Photos: Groupe F
