Jeddah: The opening round of the UIM E1 World Championship will start today in Jeddah, marking the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's third time hosting the global series. The event was organized by the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation, in cooperation with the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport and in partnership with the Public Investment Fund (PIF). According to Saudi Press Agency, the Jeddah race is the first of eight races scheduled throughout the 2026 season to be staged in cities around the world. Following the opener in Jeddah, the championship will move on to Lake Como in Italy, Dubrovnik, and Monaco. The next European destination will be announced later, before the series moves to Africa, specifically Lagos, then to Miami in the United States, with the season concluding in the Bahamas. The Jeddah race, held off the Red Sea coast opposite the Jeddah Corniche on January 23 and 24, will feature 10 teams, an increase from the eight teams that competed in the 2025 season. The event marks the opening of the 2026 championship season, which is the world's only racing series dedicated exclusively to fully electric powerboats. Among the participating teams is Team AlUla, owned by NBA star LeBron James. Bearing the name of one of the Kingdom's most prominent tourism destinations and featuring the Saudi green colors, the team represents Saudi Arabia throughout a season expanded to eight global rounds. Team AlUla is competing in its second season in the E1 Championship, retaining Canadian driver Rusty Wyatt alongside Spanish driver Nerea Martí, in compliance with championship regulations requiring one male and one female driver per team. Building on experience gained last season, Wyatt expressed confidence in delivering a strong performance for Jeddah fans, noting the team's improved readiness and ambitions to compete for leading positions and additional podium finishes. The list of participating teams includes Aoki Racing Team, the winner of last year's Jeddah race; Sierra Racing Club; Team AlUla; Team Blue Rising owned by cricket star Virat Kohli; Team Brady owned by American football star Tom Brady; Drogba Global Africa owned by former football star Didier Drogba; Team Miami; Team Monaco; Team Rafa owned by former tennis star Rafael Nadal; and Westbrook Racing, owned by American actor Will Smith. All teams compete in RaceBird boats equipped with advanced electric propulsion systems and hydrofoil technology, delivering high performance with a low environmental impact. The boats can reach speeds of up to 93 km/h and generate 150 kW (200 horsepower).
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