Held over the past two days (13–14 June), the E1 Dubrovnik GP, was the championship’s first outing in Croatia and the opening round of its highly anticipated European leg. The event drew thousands of spectators and marked a significant milestone for the sport as it continues to blend high-performance electric racing with sustainable marine innovation.
Qualifying pole position shake-up: Team AlUla makes a statement
The weekend’s action got off to a competitive start during Friday’s qualifying. Team AlUla, Championed by NBA superstar LeBron James, claimed its first pole position in the series. Pilots Rusty Wyatt and Catie Munnings delivered a standout performance to edge ahead of the early-season pace-setters—Team Rafa and Aoki Racing Team.
Fast, silent and powered entirely by battery technology, the RaceBirds turned heads as they lifted out of the water and skimmed across the surface, showcasing what’s possible in the era of sustainable motorsport.
Finals day drama: Aoki Racing Team takes Ccntrol
Saturday’s final did not disappoint. In a closely contested and high-speed showdown, it was Aoki Racing Team—backed by global DJ and music producer Steve Aoki—that surged to victory. Former Formula 1 test driver Dani Clos steered the team to its second win of the season, ably supported by co-pilot Mashael Alobaidan.
The win means Aoki Racing leapfrogs Team Rafa—led by tennis icon Rafael Nadal—in the overall standings. Nadal’s team, despite a strong start to the season, could only manage fourth place on the day, allowing Aoki Racing to pull ahead as the title battle intensifies.
Team Brady, co-owned by NFL legend Tom Brady, clinched second place, with Welsh pilot Sam Coleman earning the “PIF Pilot of the Race” award for his composed and consistent handling throughout. Team AlUla, despite starting from pole, settled for third—still a podium first for the LeBron James-backed team and a sign they’re closing the gap.
Global reach, local impact
Dubrovnik’s role as host city went beyond the spectacle of the racing. The event was supported by the Croatian National Tourist Board and included the Dubrovnik Blue Natural Capital Summit—a high-level conference focused on sustainable marine development, blue finance, and ocean innovation. Organised in collaboration with the Croatia Powerboating Club and held under the patronage of key national ministries, the summit underscored E1’s dual ambition: to entertain and to drive tangible environmental change.
Speaking after the race, E1 co-founder and CEO Rodi Basso said, “Friends and fans around the world were thrilled by this exciting win from Aoki Racing Team. The pilots navigated the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic, pushing the E1 RaceBirds to their limits—it was wonderful to watch.”
E1 Founder and Chairman Alejandro Agag added, “It’s wonderful to bring the Championship to Croatia for round three of the 2025 E1 season with the Adriatic waters and historic city of Dubrovnik as a perfect backdrop to the on-water racing.”
What’s next?
With three races now in the books—Jeddah, Doha and Dubrovnik—the 2025 E1 Championship enters its midpoint with momentum building. Aoki Racing Team leads the standings, but with Team Rafa close behind and emerging contenders like Team Brady and Team AlUla finding their footing, the competition is far from settled.
Next stop: Italy’s scenic Lake Maggiore on 27–28 June, where the race for the title will resume amid alpine peaks and deep-blue waters. From there, the championship heads to Monaco, Lagos and Miami, where the 2025 “Champions of the Water” will ultimately be crowned.
For now, though, the spotlight remains firmly on Dubrovnik—a city where past and future collided spectacularly, and where E1’s vision for sustainable, electric-powered marine sport took another confident stride forward.
