Lagos hosts first-ever African E1 powerboat championship
With E1 Lagos GP serving as the penultimate race of the season, the stage is set for a championship showdown at the season finale in Miami next month.
Nigeria.- On October 4-5, 2025, Lagos made history as the first African jurisdiction to host the UIM E1 World Championship. This year’s edition, dubbed the E1 Lagos Grand Prix, marked the debut of the all-electric powerboat series on African waters.
Backed by First Bank, the competition took place on the waters of Lagos Lagoon, attracting thousands of fans to waterfront zones and premium locations around the venue such as the Ocean’s Club at Black Diamond Hotel.
The event’s opening day featured a cultural boat regatta, blending Nigerian culture with modern racing excitement, accompanied by live music, simulators and interactive fan experiences.
After an intense weekend of racing that saw nine teams battle it out, Team Brazil by Claure Group, piloted by Timmy Hansen and Ieva Millere-Hagin, won the finale, finishing ahead of Team Blue Rising in second place and Team Drogba Global Africa in third.
Team Brazil secured pole position in Saturday’s qualifiers and successfully navigated the group races and a rain-delayed race-off on Sunday. Hansen’s outstanding performance earned him the PIF Pilot of the Race award. He said during an interview: “We came to Lagos and we had a fantastic time. It is important with the race format to have the best starting lane, so you want to start on the inside, and we had it. Thanks to the team, I had a brilliant start, and it was smooth sailing.”
The E1 all-electric powerboat championship was first introduced in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last year. With E1 Lagos GP serving as the penultimate race of the season, the stage is set for a championship showdown at the season finale in Miami next month.
Rodi Basso, E1 founder and CEO, described the Lagos race as “a landmark moment for our World Championship and for Africa”, emphasising its role in inspiring future generations and advancing cleaner marine technology.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration also received praise for its visionary leadership, with Gbenga Omotoso, State Information Commissioner, calling the event “a bold statement of the state’s global stature” and a showcase of “precision, accuracy and sustainability”.
Lagos lawmaker Bonu Solomon Saanu commended the smooth organisation, suggesting Lagos is now poised to host more international events, including possible Formula 1 races, as Nigeria considers a Grand Prix in Abuja.
By joining prestigious circuits such as Monaco, Dubrovnik and Doha, Lagos has firmly positioned Nigeria’s waterways as a premier stage for global competition, heralding a new era of sport combined with sustainability.
