The world's first-ever electric powerboat racing championship debuts in Jeddah
Jeddah is hosting the first E1 race on February 2 & 3 at the Jeddah Corniche…
First came Formula E at Riyadh’s Diriyah, and then came Extreme E, a radical off-road racing series that unfolds across the Saudi Arabian desert. Now electric engines are taking to the water with a new electric boat racing series.
Enter the UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first-ever all-electric powerboat racing championship.
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The first event for the inaugural season will make its electrifying debut in Jeddah on Friday February 2 and Saturday February 3, and will feature a full weekend of events for fans and attendees. The countdown is officially on, so get your free tickets here and witness history at the first-ever UIM E1 World Championship race.
Meanwhile, here’s all you need to know about the first-ever electric boat racing action.
So, what is the E1 series?
E1 is the first electric race boat championship sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the world governing body of powerboating. E1 holds an exclusive license with the UIM to promote a racing series on the water powered solely by electricity.
The new electric boat racing features mixed-gender teams competing in a spectacular fleet of RaceBirds. Up to 10 teams will compete in the inaugural UIM E1 World Championship season, each battling it out to secure the coveted E1 title of Champions Of The Water.
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Each team will choose two pilots from a mixed-gender line-up, sharing the driving duties across the race weekend. E1 events will be held over two days with practice sessions, qualifying and knockout races. Pilots will go head-to-head in a number of heats to determine who progresses to the next stage. The fastest teams and pilots will advance to the final to decide the winner.
The league has announced notable E1 team owners, including Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, football superstar Didier Drogba, F1 driver Sergio Pérez, DJ and music producer Steve Aoki, and singer-songwriter Marc Anthony.
A new era begins
Jeddah is the first stop of the UIM E1 World Championship that will span the globe throughout the year. Season 1 in 2024 will feature seven races around the world, culminating in a final event in Hong Kong in November.
After the first E1 race in Jeddah, the series will move to Venice on May 11 and 12, with the world-famous waters of the Venetian lagoon hosting E1’s RaceBirds. Following this, Puerto Banús will host E1’s third Grand Prix on June 1 and 2 and Geneva on June 29 and 30, before heading to Monaco on July 26 and 27 and Rotterdam on September 7 and 8 for the final race of the summer.
These events all form part of the ‘Race to Hong Kong’ – the official Championship Standings – as the debut season concludes with a spectacular finale on the globally recognised waters of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong on November 9 and 10.
What to expect
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Given the unique foiling characteristics of the RaceBird, all E1 events will take place close to shore, with fans and spectators able to easily view the action from land.
Moreover, with the stunning locations and the hype about the celebrity-led teams, we’re expecting the vibe at the E1 series to be similar to the F1 auto racing events.
Onsite, fans can enjoy the first-ever Acceleration Festival, E1’s dedicated village for attendees with a wide variety of entertainment options and experiences.
So, now that the teams are set and the race locations are locked, grab your free tickets for the E1 Jeddah GP here.
E1 Jeddah GP, Feb 2 & 3, 11am onwards, Jeddah Corniche, Obhur. @mosgovsa
Images: Social