The 2025 battle began for the world’s first and only all-electric raceboat title with victory for Aoki Racing Team at the season opener of the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF in Jeddah.
The E1 Jeddah GP saw nine teams compete in a day of captivating foil-to-foil racing that culminated in the first ever E1 win for Aoki Racing Team. The victory marks a stunning comeback for the team after a difficult 2024 season which saw them finish down in eighth overall in the final Championship standings.
Backed by international superstar DJ Steve Aoki, the team surged to victory on the Red Sea in front of thousands of excited fans, in the season opener to establish an early Championship lead.
They return home with maximum points after fending off fierce competition from Rafael Nadal’s Team Rafa who finished in second place and Virat Kohli’s Team Blue Rising who secured their maiden podium in third.
Career high for first-ever female Saudi racer
Aoki Racing Team pilot and Saudi native Mashael Alobaidan — the country’s first-ever female rally driver — thrilled the home fans with her best performance in a RaceBird to date.
Alongside her teammate Dani Clos, a former Formula 1 test driver and new to the team for 2025, they proved too strong leaving the rest of the field in their wake. Speaking after the race, Alobaidan described the win as the best of her career so far in an incredible change in fortunes for the pilot.
In fact, the result in Jeddah represented a spectacular turnaround for the whole team, said Steve Aoki:
“Last year, I think we placed last or close to last. So it just goes to show the underdog has a chance when you have determination, passion, and love for the sport.
“We came together and we retooled everything we possibly could, we put our heart and determination into it, and just to see this all happening right here, right now, winning this one, it’s just a dream come true.”
Next stop Doha in Middle East expansion
Reigning ‘Champions of the Water’ Team Brady fell short in the Finals — setting the stage for a highly competitive 2025 season. Eric Stark, the Swedish pilot from Team Miami powered by Magnus, set the fastest lap of the day to secure an additional point for his team.
It was exciting to see the GP back again in Saudi Arabia, said Rodi Basso, Co-Founder and CEO of E1:
“Fans have seen a thrilling racing spectacle this weekend here on the Red Sea. The level of competition and drama reached new heights today as the team pilots pushed the RaceBird to its limits.
“Our collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation continues to go from strength to strength as we build on our shared vision to accelerate electrification of sport and marine mobility.
“We now set our sights on the next race at Visit Qatar E1 Doha GP — a milestone in E1’s expansion in the Middle East.”
After Doha on February 21, the E1 2025 season will anchor in popular coastal destinations including Monaco and Lake Como, with a season finale in Miami which will mark the Championship’s debut in North America.
Protect and restore urban waters and coastal areas
E1 is the world’s first and only all-electric raceboat championship sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the international governing body for powerboating activities.
The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF was established to create a new, exciting and competitive on-water racing Championship using electric technologies to focus efforts on innovations that help protect and restore our urban waters and coastal areas.
The Championship sees teams featuring both a male and female pilot. E1 pilots navigate tight and technical circuits behind the wheel of an electric RaceBird, on the water in iconic cities around the world.
Teams are owned by big names in entertainment, sport and business, including: Will Smith, Marc Anthony and Steve Aoki; Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady, Virat Kohli, Didier Drogba and LeBron James; plus Marcelo Claure.
Further Reading:
- More about E1, the world’s only all-electric raceboat championship;
- More about the technology and design of E1 RaceBird; plus all Teams and Pilots;
- More about the governing body for powerboating, the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM);
- Also on SustMeme, Renewables to power Formula E cars and circuits;
- Also on SustMeme, New race for older boats cuts environmental impact;
- Also on SustMeme, Leisure and tourism must race to revive our oceans;
- Also on SustMeme, World Sailing challenge inspires new electric boat innovation;
- Also on SustMeme, Hydrofoils can help electric ferries fly across the sea;
- Also on SustMeme, Ocean X Prix: Extreme E comes to the coast of Senegal;
- Also on SustMeme, Seawater harvesting for island hotspot in Baltic Sea;
- Also on SustMeme, Round-the-world boat race to make waves in sustainability.
Check out the full archive of stories on the SustMeme Transport & Mobility Channel, now available to Sponsor.
