October 06, (THEWILL) — Team Brazil won first place at the E1 Lagos Grand Prix on Sunday, claiming 51 points after starting from pole position in Saturday’s qualifying. Pilots Timmy Hansen and co-pilot Ieva Millere-Hagin held off Team Blue Rising in the final sprint across Lagos Lagoon, marking the team’s first victory in the series and Africa’s debut as host of the all-electric powerboat championship.
The race, which began at 4 p.m. after a storm delay of several hours, drew an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 spectators to the Marina waterfront. The win placed Lagos alongside Monaco and Doha as venues for the championship, which emphasises reduced environmental impact through battery-powered vessels.
The E1 World Championship entered its second season in 2025, sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique as the first series to use fully electric powerboats. Nine teams competed across seven rounds, with plans to expand to 12 teams and 15 races in future years. Each team fields two pilots who navigate the RaceBird, a carbon-fiber vessel equipped with hydrofoils that lift it above the water surface to reach speeds of 50 knots, approximately 93 kilometers per hour.
The format begins with group qualifying on the first day, where boats complete timed laps to determine starting positions. On race day, teams advance through a knockout elimination phase before entering a final heat lasting approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Points are awarded to the top finishers, contributing to an overall championship tally decided at the season finale in Miami in November.
Team owners include Tom Brady for Team Brady, Rafael Nadal for Team Rafa, Virat Kohli for Team Blue Rising, LeBron James for Team AlUla, and Didier Drogba for Team Drogba Global Africa. The series emphasises equal gender participation, with women serving as pilots or co-pilots on several teams.
Hansen, a 33-year-old Swedish pilot and former rallycross world champion, and Millere-Hagin, a Latvian powerboat veteran, posted the fastest qualifying time on October 4, edging out Team Rafa and Aoki Racing. Team Brazil advanced through the group stages and knockout rounds without incident, while collisions sidelined other competitors. In the final, Hansen used the RaceBird’s regenerative braking system to manage energy and maintain speed through tight turns. Team Drogba Global Africa, with Drogba present on the sidelines, finished third. Hansen received the Pilot of the Race award following the podium ceremony.
The victory lifted Team Brazil to 89 points overall, though they trail leaders Team Rafa on 136 and Team Brady on 135 heading into the Miami finale.
Each RaceBird draws power from a 150-kilowatt battery pack, producing no exhaust emissions during operation. Hydrofoils raise the hull to minimise wake, which reduces erosion in coastal ecosystems. The boats include data sensors that track marine biodiversity during events. In Lagos, the series partnered with local groups to monitor lagoon water quality before and after the races to assess impacts on fish populations and mangroves.
Series founder Rodi Basso said the championship aims to demonstrate cleaner marine mobility, with boats capable of recharging via solar-assisted stations between heats. Critics have raised concerns about the environmental cost of lithium battery production. E1 has committed proceeds to coastal conservation projects worldwide and hosted panels on blue economy strategies during the Lagos event, drawing experts from Nigeria’s maritime sector. Basso described the weekend as a landmark for Africa, demonstrating the continent’s capacity to host motorsport events tied to technological advancement.
Lagos State selected the lagoon for its natural basin, dredged in recent years to accommodate racing safely. The event opened Friday with a regatta parade that included traditional canoes alongside the RaceBirds. Drogba attended to support Team Drogba, and local vendors sold food and crafts throughout the weekend. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu attended the podium ceremony and said the race could inspire youth interest in science and engineering while demonstrating potential for jobs in tourism and clean transport, aligning with Nigeria’s blue economy goals under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The state projected more than $100 million in revenue from visitor spending, media coverage, and related investments, affecting hotels, transport, and event services. Some families gathered for the purpose of witnessing the competition, especially on the second day as word spread from the initial day’s qualifying series. A crowd of children were also seen watching the events as they occurred from viewing areas. Its global broadcast was said to have reached millions of viewers.
Team Brazil will compete in the Miami finale, where Hansen and Millere-Hagin will attempt to close the gap with championship leaders. Lagos officials are considering annual returns of the event to develop local participation in electric motorsport. Sanwo-Olu said such events could attract investment in green infrastructure, including tidal energy projects and youth training in electric engineering.
Basso’s stated goal of establishing a motorsport presence in Africa advanced with the Lagos event, though the storm delay highlighted logistical challenges of racing in tropical climates. The lagoon, affected by urban growth in recent years, served as the venue for the championship’s emphasis on combining competitive racing with environmental objectives. Lagos positioned itself through the weekend as both host and participant in efforts to develop sustainable water sports.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
