In a landmark moment for African motorsport, Lagos became the first African city to host a race in the UIM E1 World Championship — the world’s first all-electric powerboat racing series — on a rain-soaked Sunday that saw global sporting royalty and local fans come together on the city’s vibrant waterfront.
The E1 Lagos Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the championship’s second season, brought together nine elite teams owned by sporting icons such as Didier Drogba, Tom Brady, LeBron James, Rafael Nadal, and Virat Kohli.
Despite a tropical storm delaying the final races, the energy around the event was electric — quite literally.
Held on Lagos Lagoon, this marks the fourth continent to host the innovative championship, following races in Jeddah, Doha, Monaco, and Miami. The 2025 season expanded from five races in two continents last year to seven races across four continents.
“Africa needed to be there. The motherland needed to be there,” said Rodi Basso, CEO and co-founder of E1. “We are incredibly proud to have brought this race to Lagos.”
Rain, Jollof, and Afrobeats: A True Lagos Vibe.
Grey skies and showers didn’t dampen spirits. Under white tents lining the shore, fans danced to booming afrobeats, enjoyed jollof rice from vendors, and cheered as boats sliced through the waves.
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Some watched from hotel balconies and office buildings, sipping champagne as futuristic hydrofoil powerboats zipped past in dramatic head-to-heads on the water.
Team Brazil, owned by tech entrepreneur Marcelo Claure, powered by a stellar performance from driver Timmy Hansen, emerged victorious — earning their first win of the season after a dominant display from qualifying through to the final.
They edged out Team Blue Rising (owned by Virat Kohli) into second place, with Team Drogba (fronted by Didier Drogba and Gabrielle Lemaire) taking third.
The team’s pole position from Saturday’s qualifying proved crucial, as they capitalized on clear water to lead throughout the event.
Notably missing from the podium were Team Brady and Team Rafa, both front-runners in the championship standings heading into Lagos.
With 38 points earned from the win, Team Brazil moved up to 89 points in the overall standings but remain outside the title race, setting up a dramatic finish in Miami next month.
Beyond the thrill, the event showcased sustainability, technology, and a new vision for marine transportation. The E1 Championship, often dubbed the “Formula One of the Seas”, was co-founded by Alejandro Agag (the mind behind Formula E and Extreme E) and Rodi Basso, a former Formula One engineer.
Each team features a male and female pilot, with athletes drawn from backgrounds including motorsport, go-karting, and traditional powerboating. The focus: zero-emission, high-performance competition designed to inspire a cleaner, greener marine future.
As the curtain falls on the Lagos GP, eyes now turn to Miami, where the E1 season finale promises a battle for the championship crown — and another chance to showcase the intersection of sport, sustainability, and global unity on water.
