Rain-soaked but undeterred, Lagos played host on Sunday to the UIM E1 World Championship, marking the first time the all-electric powerboat racing series has landed in Africa.
Despite a tropical storm delaying the finals, fans and racers braved the elements as the E1 Lagos Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the season, unfolded on the city’s lagoon. The event featured nine teams owned by global sporting and entertainment icons, from LeBron James to Didier Drogba.
Africa becomes the fourth continent to host a race in E1’s second season, as the championship expands from five to seven races. Previous events have taken place in Jeddah, Doha, Monaco, and Miami, where the season finale will also be held later this year.
“Africa needed to be there — the motherland needed to be there,” said Rodi Basso, E1 co-founder and CEO. “We’re incredibly proud to grow from five races across two continents last season to seven across four this year.”
Afrobeats, jollof, and racing
Under grey skies and steady showers, fans gathered along the Lagos shoreline, watching from white tents, hotel balconies, and high-rise offices, as afrobeats blared and vendors sold jollof rice — a Nigerian staple.
“It’s almost as if you’re abroad,” said 61-year-old advertising executive Bumi Oke, who attended with her husband. “Hosting a race like this gives Nigerians more confidence in our ability to stage global events. Come rain or sun, business goes on.”
A star-studded showdown
Among the celebrity owners present were Didier Drogba and his partner Gabrielle Lemaire, who played key roles in bringing the race to Africa. They joined the winners on the podium and posed for photos post-race.
Team Brazil, owned by tech entrepreneur Marcelo Claure, took first place. Team Blue Rising, backed by Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli, finished second, while Drogba’s team clinched third.
Each E1 team features one male and one female pilot, drawn from diverse sporting backgrounds such as motorsports, go-karting, and traditional powerboating.
With the Lagos Grand Prix now in the history books, all eyes turn to Miami for the season finale — and to what’s next for E1’s expanding global presence.
AFP
