Virat Kohli’s team wins electric offshore motorboat racing, here’s all about E1
Image courtesy: E1 websiteA team named Blue Rising won the Monaco leg of E1 – world’s first all-electric offshore motorboat racing. What’s special about it? The team is owned none other than Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli.The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF (Saudi Public Investment Fund) is the world’s first all-electric raceboat series. UIM or Union Internationale Motonautique is the international governing body of the powerboating sports.Not only Virat Kohli, the sport’s current format kicked off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2024, features teams owned by tennis star Rafael Nadal, actor Will Smith, DJ Steve Aoki, Basketball player Lebron James, and many more in its 2025 season.E1 race formatA race weekend kicks off with testing, free practice, and qualifying sessions on Day 1 for each teams RaceBirds – the vehicle for racing.The real action unfolds on Day 2 with the semi-finals, play-off race, eliminator, place race, and the final showdown.All nine teams have the freedom to decide when each pilot takes the wheel — switching between the male and female drivers for different sessions.Each race features 4 laps, including one long lap using the extended track layout and one short lap. Drivers can choose when to take each lap during the race, but both must be completed.Instead of traditional buoys, the course is outlined using SmartMarks — electronic, anchorless markers that are far less intrusive to marine life.For 2025, these are the locations chosen–Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaDoha, QatarDubrovnik, CroatiaLago Maggiore, Italy-SwitzerlandMonacoLagos, NigeriaMiami, USAAs Virat Kohli’s Blue Rising secures its first-ever P1 in Monaco leg, the remaining Lagos and Miami legs on October 5 and November 8, respectively.Meet the teamsTeam Rafa by Rafael Nadal (Spanish tennis player)Westbrook Racing by Will Smith (American actor)Aoki Racing Team by Steve Aoki (American DJ and record producer)Team AlUla championed by LeBron James by Lebron James (American basketball player)Team Brady by Tom Brady (American football player)Team Brazil by Claure Group by Marcelo Claure (Bolivian-American Tech entrepreneur)Team Drogba by Didier Drogba (Ivorian former footballer)Team Miami powered by Magnus by Marc Anthony (American singer and actor)Team Blue Rising by Virat Kohli (Indian cricketer)The drivers for the Blue Rising are USA’s John Peeter and Jamaica’s Sara Misir.In the current standings for this season, Team Brady, Rafa, and Aoki lead the table as top 3, while Blue Rising stands at the fourth position.
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| Image courtesy: E1 website |
A team named Blue Rising won the Monaco leg of E1 – world’s first all-electric offshore motorboat racing. What’s special about it? The team is owned none other than Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli.
The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF (Saudi Public Investment Fund) is the world’s first all-electric raceboat series. UIM or Union Internationale Motonautique is the international governing body of the powerboating sports.
Not only Virat Kohli, the sport’s current format kicked off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2024, features teams owned by tennis star Rafael Nadal, actor Will Smith, DJ Steve Aoki, Basketball player Lebron James, and many more in its 2025 season.
E1 race format
A race weekend kicks off with testing, free practice, and qualifying sessions on Day 1 for each teams RaceBirds – the vehicle for racing.
The real action unfolds on Day 2 with the semi-finals, play-off race, eliminator, place race, and the final showdown.
All nine teams have the freedom to decide when each pilot takes the wheel — switching between the male and female drivers for different sessions.
Each race features 4 laps, including one long lap using the extended track layout and one short lap. Drivers can choose when to take each lap during the race, but both must be completed.
Instead of traditional buoys, the course is outlined using SmartMarks — electronic, anchorless markers that are far less intrusive to marine life.
For 2025, these are the locations chosen–
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Doha, Qatar
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Lago Maggiore, Italy-Switzerland
- Monaco
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Miami, USA
As Virat Kohli’s Blue Rising secures its first-ever P1 in Monaco leg, the remaining Lagos and Miami legs on October 5 and November 8, respectively.
Meet the teams
- Team Rafa by Rafael Nadal (Spanish tennis player)
- Westbrook Racing by Will Smith (American actor)
- Aoki Racing Team by Steve Aoki (American DJ and record producer)
- Team AlUla championed by LeBron James by Lebron James (American basketball player)
- Team Brady by Tom Brady (American football player)
- Team Brazil by Claure Group by Marcelo Claure (Bolivian-American Tech entrepreneur)
- Team Drogba by Didier Drogba (Ivorian former footballer)
- Team Miami powered by Magnus by Marc Anthony (American singer and actor)
- Team Blue Rising by Virat Kohli (Indian cricketer)
The drivers for the Blue Rising are USA’s John Peeter and Jamaica’s Sara Misir.
In the current standings for this season, Team Brady, Rafa, and Aoki lead the table as top 3, while Blue Rising stands at the fourth position.
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