Lagos, the Nigerian megalopolis of 17 million people, is adding a new entry to its sporting calendar this weekend as the UIM E1 World Championship arrives for the very first time. The world's first all-electric raceboat series is set to take over Lagos Lagoon, bringing its fleet of futuristic RaceBirds to the African continent in a landmark moment for the sport.
Qualifying gets underway on Saturday 4 October, with racing following on Sunday 5 October. Victoria Island, already renowned for its beach resorts and vibrant nightlife, is expected to draw enormous crowds as Lagos continues to establish itself as a serious destination for international sporting events. The RaceBirds use hydrofoil technology to fly above the water's surface at speed, bringing clean innovation to a city that has been actively championing blue economy development.
The championship standings heading into Lagos could scarcely be tighter. Team Brady, with drivers Emma Kimiläinen and Sam Coleman at the controls, leads the title race on 135 points, but the margin over second-placed Team Rafa, crewed by Cris Lazarraga and Tom Chiappe, is a single point. Aoki Racing sit third on 125 points, while Team Blue Rising remain firmly in contention on 114. Just 21 points covers the top four teams, and with only Lagos and the Miami finale remaining on the 2025 calendar, any error could prove costly to a championship bid.
The season has already delivered its share of drama, including a tense Monaco showdown and a high-speed qualifying collision that brought Team Rafa and Team Brazil together. Lagos now becomes the next flashpoint.
The Lagos GP presented by FirstBank will carry considerable star power beyond the racing itself. African football legend Didier Drogba, who co-owns Team Drogba alongside Gabrielle Lemaire, is expected to be trackside, reinforcing the series' reach well beyond conventional motorsport audiences. The wider roster of E1 team owners includes Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, LeBron James, Will Smith, Marcelo Claure, Marc Anthony and Virat Kohli, a collection of global names that few emerging sports properties can claim.
E1 founder and CEO Rodi Basso offered his perspective on the moment:
“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.”
With Miami on 8 November serving as the season finale, the outcome in Lagos could go a long way towards determining who claims the 2025 title of Champions of the Water. Coverage of the event is available on the E1 YouTube channel.
