Nigeria set to host E1 race world championship

April 27, 2025

The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, the world’s first all-electric raceboat Championship, announces that Lagos will host the first E1 race in the African continent later this year.

To be held over the weekend of October 4 to 5, the Lagos race will mark an important milestone for the Championship as it continues to expand to already scheduled European, Middle Eastern and North American races.

As Africa’s largest city, Lagos is poised to join other iconic coastal locations including Monaco, Doha and Miami as a destination for the pioneering electric racing series.

Home to an estimated 21 million people, Lagos is regarded as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking cities in Africa, embracing sustainable tourism and technology. The E1 RaceBirds will take flight for the first time on African waters across the Lagos Lagoon.

Set to bring a touch of glamour to the Nigerian metropolis as well as aiming to boost investment in Africa, the Championship features nine teams owned by a series of high-profile talents including African football legend Didier Drogba, NFL icon Tom Brady, NBA Champion Lebron James, Hollywood actor Will Smith, and tennis superstar Rafael Nadal. All are aligned with E1’s purpose of accelerating the development and deployment of electrified marine mobility and supporting the regeneration of coastal environments.

The announcement follows the appointment of an African consortium to promote the race which includes the Didier Drogba Foundation, Lilium Capital Group and the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) - the impact investment platform of African Export-Import Bank Afreximbank.