As thrillseekers know all too well, 2024 ended up being an unusual year when it comes to record-breaking roller coasters. A series of high-profile closures left several would-be record-holders in the dreaded state of standing but not operating (“SBNO”)… So many are closed, in fact, that as we explored, the “world’s fastest roller coaster” in 2024 was the fourth fastest in 2023. But it looks like a classic is ready for a comeback…
Obviously, coaster enthusiasts have been rocked by the failed relaunch of “Top Thrill 2” (a former Intamin Accelerator coaster that was transformed by Zamperla into an LSM multi-launch coaster, only to operate for a week before shuttering for major modifications) and the surprise closure of Kingda Ka (which, at the time of its unannounced end, was the tallest and fastest operating coaster on Earth). But even though Top Thrill Dragster and Kingda Ka were probably the most well-known high-speed coasters on Earth (thanks to their status as the world’s only two 400+ foot stratacoasters), another coaster has had them beat for speed for more than a decade…
Formula Rossa
In 2010, Formula Rossa opened at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi – a mostly-indoor amusement park that was part of a massive (and relatively short-lived) oil-powered investment in turning the Middle East into a family-oriented tourist destination. Like Top Thrill Dragster and Kingda Ka, Formula Rossa was an Intamin Accelerator harnessing the power of hydraulics to rapidly unspool a wound cable connected to a train.
The mechanics of hydraulic launch coasters are incredibly complex (see the hyper in-depth video above)… and often, frustratingly unreliable. Using compressed hydraulic fluid under massive pressure, the system basically attaches a catch car to the underside of a coaster train, then – through a staggering pressure release – rapidly unspools a cable that pulls the train to immense speed in very little time.
But even Dragster (0 to 120 mph in 3.8 seconds) and Kingda Ka (0 to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds) paled in comparison to Formula Rossa, which harnessed the same system to propel riders from 0 to 149.1 mph in 4.9 seconds. The ride was so blisteringly fast (and located in the sandy deserts of Abu Dhabi) that riders were required to don safety goggles.
Hydraulic troubles
Hydraulic launch systems are capable of unbelievable speed and near-instantaneous acceleration. But as fans of Dragster and Kingda Ka will tell you, they can also be plagued with issues. For example, compared to non-contact forces like electromagnetism, the hydraulic system is filled with friction that can occasionally fray or snap launch cables, causing injuries to riders (like in this frightening video captured on Knott’s Berry Farm’s Intamin Accelerator, Xcelerator). Not to mention, a piece infamously fell from a Dragster train as it rocketed by queuing guests, causing substantial injuries to a bystander.
Especially as these ultra-intense coasters from the height of the “Coaster Wars” reach 15, 20, even 25 years of life, it’s not really a surprise that parks are needing to decide whether to invest in full-scale rebuilds (like Cedar Point did with Dragster) or to cut their losses on the problematic record-holders (like Six Flags Great Adventure did with Kingda Ka).
And when Formula Rossa closed in January 2024 without much fanfare or explanation (gracefully making Kingda Ka the fastest coaster in the world once more for its final season), fans wondered which direction Ferrari World Abu Dhabi would go… Formula Rossa remained closed all through 2024. But it appears we’ve found the answer…
Testing the World’s Fastest Roller Coaster
Coaster aficionado “ElToroRyan” (one of the first to correctly predict the end of Kingda Ka) shared a video of unknown origin taken in December 2024 showing Formula Rossa testing. The insinuation is that the ride spent 2024 in a state of repair, likely rebuilding the hydraulic launch system. (To be fair, even rides need a break… especially ones that launch from 0 to 150 miles per hour continuously in the 120+ degree heat of Abu Dhabi.)
While we don’t yet have a date when Formula Rossa’s “SBNO” status may end, at least it appears that the fastest roller coaster in the world will reclaim its title after a 2024 that was very rough on these high-speed coasters. Of course, theoretically, it could re-open just in time to have its record bested by Falcons Flight – the unbelievable “exacoaster” (that is, 500+ feet) set to open at Six Flags Qiddiya ten hours away in the vast deserts of Saudi Arabia. If all goes as planned, Falcons Flight will top 155 miles per hour, meaning Formula Rossa better re-open quickly if it wants to reclaim the speed title while it can.
