E1’s African debut
Lagos, a city of 17 million and the beating heart of Nigeria, adds another highlight to its cultural and sporting calendar this weekend. For the first time, the UIM E1 World Championship – the world’s first all-electric raceboat series – will light up the waters of Lagos Lagoon.
Qualifying runs on Saturday 4 October, followed by full race action on Sunday 5 October. The event is expected to draw huge crowds to Victoria Island, already famous for its nightlife and beach resorts, as Lagos positions itself as a global hub for international sport.
E1’s futuristic RaceBirds, capable of flying above the water at speed, will showcase cutting-edge technology while highlighting the city’s drive for clean innovation and a stronger blue economy.
Championship on a knife-edge
The title fight could not be closer. Team Brady, led by drivers Emma Kimiläinen and Sam Coleman, holds the narrowest of leads with 135 points. One point behind sit Team Rafa, fielding Cris Lazarraga and Tom Chiappe.
Just 21 points cover the top four, with Aoki Racing (125 points) and Team Blue Rising (114 points) still well within striking distance. A single mistake could prove decisive with only Lagos and the Miami finale left in the 2025 season.
The tension follows dramatic moments earlier in the year, including a Monaco showdown and a high-speed crash that saw Team Rafa and Team Brazil collide in qualifying.
Team Blue Rising stuns in Monaco as E1 Championship tightens
Star power in Lagos
The Lagos GP presented by FirstBank will not only deliver on racing spectacle but also celebrity presence. African football icon Didier Drogba – co-owner of Team Drogba alongside Gabrielle Lemaire – is expected to be trackside, reinforcing E1’s appeal well beyond traditional motorsport.
Other team owners include Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, LeBron James, Will Smith, Marcelo Claure, Marc Anthony and Virat Kohli – giving the fledgling series a global profile few sports can match.
Rodi Basso, E1’s founder and CEO, said:
“Bringing E1 to Africa represents a pivotal moment in our mission to grow electric racing globally. Lagos brings incredible energy, creativity and ambition that matches E1’s DNA perfectly.”
Season finale
With Miami (8 November) marking the season finale, Lagos becomes the stage for one of the most important chapters in E1’s young history. The winner in Nigeria may gain the crucial advantage to claim the 2025 crown of “Champions of the Water.”
Coverage is available on the E1 YouTube channel.
