Indy Autonomous Challenge Makes Self-Driving Racing History at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
AI drivers from eight university teams competed in a time trial race that kicked-off the NTT INDYCAR Series Java House Grand Prix of Monterey weekend
MONTEREY, Calif.--History was made on July 24 at the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) pushed the boundaries of artificial intelligence in motorsport. As a kick-off to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Java House Grand Prix of Monterey event weekend, university research teams from around the world took part in a time trial race with their AI drivers piloting IAC AV-24 world’s fastest autonomous racecars.
In a display of precision and speed, approaching the lap-times of top human racecar drivers, the AI driver of PoliMOVE MSU emerged victorious, showcasing advancements in high-speed self-driving technology on one of the world’s most challenging road courses.
Purdue AI Racing took second place in a highly competitive final round, with the top two teams separated by less than one second. KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) took third.
“It was an honor to be part of the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey weekend. The NTT INDYCAR Series runs the world’s fastest racecars and WeatherTEch Raceway Laguna Seca is among the most technically challenging road courses in the world,” said Paul Mitchell, CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and its parent company Aidoptation BV. “Our university research teams stepped up to this challenge, advancing the field of AI and autonomy by pushing vehicle dynamics to the absolute edge and laying down lap times that only the best human drivers can achieve. The promise of high-speed autonomous driving was on full display.”
“We have a lot of new team members this year, with lots of turnover over the last four years. Driving autonomously on a road course is the ultimate challenge especially at Laguna Seca with its 18-meter and 18-degree Corkscrew drop,” said Dr. Sergio Savaresi, PoliMOVE-MSU Team Principal. “Our team spent a lot of time in simulation to perfect the AI driver’s decision-making capabilities. I am incredibly proud of this team. And congratulations to Purdue AI Racing for an outstanding final round performance.”
The IAC ran a 10-minute exhibition of high-speed autonomous laps on July 26 immediately after NTT INDYCAR Series qualifying. That IAC AV-24 racecar, piloted by the winning PoliMOVE-MSU AI driver, launched on the main straight seconds after series point leader Alex Palouset the pole and exited the track with his racecar. The exhibition was executed flawlessly, showcasing autonomous racing for the INDYCAR paddock and the tens of thousands of race fans gathered at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
“Hosting the IAC at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as part of the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey was a thrill. Not only did we introduce our fans to the world’s fastest autonomous racecars, but IAC also attracted hundreds of companies, researchers, and government leaders in AI and autonomy from Silicon Valley and around the world to our venue,” said Mel Harder, president & general manager, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “We are excited to partner with IAC on the future of AI racing and consider how SMART track technologies can enhance safety and fan engagement in motorsports.”
This marked the third time the IAC has raced on a road course, building on the success of two previous outings at the Monza F1 Circuit in Italy, including a recent weekend in June at the Milano Monza Open-Air Motor Show. The IAC started its racing on oval tracks, and the teams have steadily progressed into multicar racing on ovals, including a recent four-car exhibition race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during CES2025. IAC now seeks to achieve a similar development path toward head-to-head racing on road courses.
Off the track, IAC hosted an AI & Automation Summit held on the grounds of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The summit brought together 100 select thought leaders from industry, academia, and government. The group discussed emerging Physical AI technologies and how R&D, industry commercialization, and public-private partnerships can scale globally in a way that is safe and secure.
Official timing results from the IAC Grand Prix of Monterey Time Trial Race:
About Indy Autonomous Challenge
Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) is dedicated to advancing autonomous technologies through high-speed racing. IAC engineers and constructs the IAC AV-24 racecar and organizes competitions among 10 university-affiliated teams from around the world, challenging them to program AI drivers to pilot the fully autonomous racecars. IAC aims to create a platform for the development and real-world validation of physical AI systems, driving innovation in the safety and performance of autonomous vehicles. Founded in 2019, IAC has been based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. In February 2025, IAC established a commercial spin-out company, Aidoptation BV, headquartered at Droneport in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. Aidoptation seeks to transition the learnings and technology of IAC’s autonomous racing program to advance safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways.
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About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned motorsport facility located in Monterey, California operated and managed by Friends of Laguna Seca, a 501c(3) non-profit. Nestled among scenic hills, it has a rich history of hosting premier racing events, making it a favorite destination for motorsport enthusiasts from around the world. The raceway features challenging turns and elevation changes including the world-famous Corkscrew, providing a thrilling experience for both drivers and fans. Friends of Laguna Seca is committed to delivering top-tier racing and entertainment experiences year after year. Find out how you can get involved at FriendsOfLagunaSeca.org.
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