Lagos Makes History as Africa Hosts Its First E1 World Championship Race
Lagos Makes History as Africa Hosts Its First E1 World Championship Race By Eniola Olagunju Lagos etched its name into the global sporting map over the weekend as it hosted Africa’s first-ever round of the UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s premier all-electric powerboat racing series. The two-day event, held on the Victoria Island Lagoon, drew several spectators and marked a new chapter for Nigeria in sustainable sports innovation. The Lagos Grand Prix, which ran from October 4 to 5, 2025, showcased the continent’s growing capacity to host world-class sporting events. The atmosphere along the Lagos waterways was electric as nine international teams competed in their futuristic “RaceBird” boats — hydrofoil-powered vessels designed to glide above the water at speeds of up to 90 km/h without emitting pollution or noise. Team Brazil, led by drivers Timmy Hansen and Ieva Millere-Hagin, emerged champions after a very competitive weekend performance. They won both qualifying and fin...