{
  "id": 11192786,
  "title": "2 Driverless Cars Crashed Going 155 mph. That Could Be a Good Thing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/2-driverless-cars-crashed-going-155-mph-that-could-be-a-good-thing",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-01T12:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Wired",
    "slug": "wired",
    "url": "https://www.wired.com/story/2-driverless-cars-crashed-going-155-mph-that-could-be-a-good-thing/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At Italy's infamous Imola racing circuit, two driverless cars collided at speeds of around 155 mph. This occurred in the final sequence of the track, known for its challenging corners. Formula 1 champions have experienced similar accidents here. However, in this instance, there were no drivers involved, and the impact did not pose any danger. Organized by A2RL, the race aimed to push the boundaries of autonomous vehicles' capabilities. Out of the five cars in the final, only two managed to complete the race. The UAE's Kinetiz emerged victorious, followed by Germany's Constructor Racing, with PoliMove securing third place. Two-time champion TUM withdrew its car due to a brake problem during the formation lap. The choice of this track for this race was deliberate, according to Nicola Palarchi, engineering director at Aspire, the company behind A2RL. He stated, \"We have to show we go where it matters.\" Palarchi emphasized that autonomous racing's primary goal was not to compete with human racing but to establish its own motorsport. This form of racing serves as a laboratory for testing the limits of autonomous vehicles' perception, prediction, and vehicle control at extreme speeds without endangering human lives. The race's unique challenges included less-than-optimal conditions, with only nine days of physical testing before the event, which took place under rain and hail. The league's first international competition outside Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit also played a role in this decision. Each stage of the autonomous racing process - perception, decision-making, and control - becomes increasingly difficult at high speeds. If a vehicle loses its ability to interpret incomplete information, predict another car's movements, and execute evasive maneuvers, it could lead to collisions. This was evident when Gianna, operated by PoliMove, lost its lidar and radar sensors, causing it to initiate a safety stop. While PoliMove's Eva attempted to avoid a collision with Gianna, the delay in reaction time made it impossible to prevent the crash. Similarly, TUM's Hailey retired due to a stuck rear-left brake during the formation lap. These failures provided valuable insights into the limitations and potential improvements needed for autonomous vehicle technology. The data collected during the race remains within the competition, and the next A2RL race will take place at Yas Marina Circuit, where teams can further refine their systems.",
  "summary": "Only two of five vehicles finished the race around a notoriously difficult Formula 1 track, exposing what happens when autonomous systems meet blind corners, sensor failures, and physics.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}