E1 Racing Series Expands to Miami, Italy, and Africa This Summer

E1 Racing hydrofoil — The E1 'Racebird' hydrofoil in action

Boaters are starting to take note of E1 Racing. With its growing international popularity, the series has added new global destinations for 2025.

E1 is an all-new racing series seeking to reinvigorate offshore racing with custom designed hydrofoiling electric trimarans and some of the biggest names in sports and media. The series launched in 2024 and hosted events at some of the world's most renowned waterfront cities including Monaco (Italy), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Doha (Qatar), and more .

The series will now expand in 2025 with races off the coast of Miami, Florida, as well as new stops on Lake Maggiore in Italy and Lagos, Nigeria.

The league features nine teams with high-profile owners including Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, Didier Drogba, Steve Aoki, and Will Smith. The series also has partnerships with major yacht manufacturers including Sunseeker and Azimut. During the developmental phase before its launch in 2024, teams of engineers refined the 'Racebird' - a hydrofoiling trimaran with more speed and better handling than any hydrofoil ever built. The Racebird is powered by a 150 kW motor — roughly 200 horsepower — and is capable of reaching speeds over 50 knots (57 mph). Built with a carbon fiber hull and a cutting-edge battery system, the Racebird is ultra-lightweight, highly efficient, and exceptionally agile for handling the intense G-forces of E1’s tight, technical courses.

The 2025 season is already underway with stops in Jeddah and Doha already in the books. Race #1 in Jeddah saw Team Aoko take the checkered flag, while Race #2 in Doha went to Team Rafa.

The next stop is Lago Maggiore in Italy in late June, followed by Monaco on July 19th, Lagos on October 5th, and Miami to close out the season on November 8th.

The Lagos race marks a new continent for E1 and boaters will see firsthand how the water off Nigeria's coast fares against the unique E1 Racebird.

"We’re delighted to bring the most exciting electric racing Championship in the world to Lagos, one of the world’s most exciting cities," said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State. Lagos is the largest city in Africa with a population of 21 million. It was previously the capital of Nigeria until 1991 when the title was given to the city of Abuja in Nigeria's interior. Lagos is among the Top 10 fastest growing cities in the world and has the second highest GDP in Africa. It also has one of the largest and busiest seaports on the continent. "Lagos is a dynamic and enterprising city brimming with new ideas which makes it the ideal addition to our E1 race calendar," said Rodi Basso, CEO & Co-Founder of E1.

"Bringing E1 to Africa is a dream come true. I’m energized to showcase the beauty of the continent and the warmth of its people at the Lagos race. This event will demonstrate the city’s ambition to be at the forefront of technology and sustainability and makes me immensely proud to be an African team owner in E1," said Didier Drogba, Founder & Co-Owner of Team Drogba.

In Italy, the Lake Maggiore event will take over the coastal city on June 27-28. In a fitting twist, Italy is the birthplace of E1's development of the unique 'Racebird' concept. The hydrofoil originally harkens back to Nova Scotia, Canada in 1906 when Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, first made the concept viable as a seafaring vessel. Around the same time in 1906, Italian inventor Enrico Forlanini began early experiments with the first commercial passenger hydrofoil which launched in 1953. "The E1 Lago Maggiore GP tells a fascinating story of history and innovation on water. We’re very excited to continue this narrative with our pioneering championship – bringing our electrifying brand of racing to a place of real natural beauty," said Alejandro Agag, Chairman and Co-Founder of E1. The series will wrap up the 2025 schedule in Miami, the original birthplace of the iconic Thunderboat Row. The event will take place on Nov 7th-8th and will feature a circuit set just off the coast of the iconic boating city. Miami is the world's largest recreational boating market. “I’m beyond excited to bring the E1 Championship to Miami," said Marc Anthony, owner of Team Miami powered by Magnus. "This city has always had a special connection to the water, and with the E1 series, we’re taking that connection into the future, showcasing sustainable innovation and the electrification of marine racing.” Miami Mayor Francis X. Suarez added, “Miami is the epicenter of innovation, where tech, finance, and world-class sports come together. We are proud to host the E1 Miami GP and welcome a championship that embody these principles to our shores.” Tom Brady, a resident of nearby Tampa Bay during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring in 2023, won the inaugural 2024 E1 championship with the Team Brady banner. The team is piloted by Sam Coleman and Emma Kimiläinen. Coleman is a powerboating World Champion, while Kimiläinen is an elite racing driver with experience in W Series, Sportscars, and Formula Ford. Race #2 went to Team Rafa, headed by tennis great Rafael Nadal. Team Rafa's Racebird is piloted by Cris Lazarraga and Tom Chiappe. Lazzaraga is a European champion (2019) and won the Polish Grand Prix in 2021. Chiappe is a world endurance champion in powerboat racing 2016 and a former karting world champion in 2023. E1 races can be watched on the official E1 YouTube channel and on streaming platforms including DAZN, CBS TV, and Rev TV.