Buzz
On November 4, 2010, the Formula Rossa, recognized as the world’s fastest roller coaster, made its grand debut at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi—the inaugural Ferrari-themed amusement park devoted to the legendary Italian car brand. This steel coaster reaches a dizzying 4.8 Gs (for reference, NASA astronauts experienced up to 3 Gs during space shuttle launches), towers at 170.6 feet (52 meters), and stretches across 1.4 miles.
Upon launch, the Formula Rossa accelerates from 0 to 149 mph—the maximum speed—in just 4.9 seconds. It’s so fast that riders are required to wear protective goggles for the 60-second thrill ride.
Formula Rossa is classified as a launched coaster; it uses a hydraulic launch system similar to that of an aircraft carrier. According to ESFStream.com, “Engineers had to design and build motors, pistons, and pumps in every train to significantly boost the speed. A deflecting roller beneath the train on the track enhances curve control at extreme velocities.”
The roller coaster car is designed to resemble a red Ferrari Formula 1 race car, and in 2014, real Formula One drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso took it for a spin. While Alonso appeared to enjoy the ride, the Daily Mail reported that Raikkonen seemed rather indifferent.
Although Formula Rossa has held the title of the world’s fastest coaster for nearly a decade, it is facing formidable competition. In 2023, Six Flags is set to open a new amusement park in Saudi Arabia, where its coaster, Falcon’s Flight, aims to be not just the “world’s most extreme roller coaster,” but also the tallest, longest, and fastest ride ever built.
