• The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, the world's only all-electric boatrace, has begun its second season with the E1 Jeddah GP
• Team Brady, the 2024 Champions of the Water, came first in Friday's qualifier, with Team AlUla, on their debut, second and Racing Team Aoki placing third
• Tickets for Saturday's final remain available via E1 Jeddah GP | webook.com | webook.com.
• 'The thing with electric mobility is that more and more people are going to be interested in the racing and hopefully this is going to be the starting point for making it accessible for everyone' – HRH Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman, Chairman, SWSDF
   

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (24 January 2025) – His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman, Chairman of the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation (SWSDF), has championed the E1 Jeddah GP's theme of 'Race for Change' as a key part of Saudi Arabia's sporting ambitions.

Qualifying for the E1 Jeddah GP, which begins a second season of the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, took place on Friday with Team Brady, the 2024 Champions of the Water, first in the campaign's opening race. Team AlUla, on their debut, set the fastest single lap time on water but had to settle for second qualifying spot overall. Racing Team Aoki rounded off the qualifying podium.

Presented in partnership between E1, the Saudi Ministry of Sport, and SWSDF, the main E1 Jeddah GP race is on Saturday. The event showcases elite sport while advocating sustainability in marine environments.

Speaking on the sidelines of the E1 Jeddah GP, HRH Prince Sultan said of the 'Race for Change' theme of this year's race: 'The first step of change is information; you have to tell people. You have to show people. If we don't have more events like E1 where there is a high level of competition with the future of mobility in terms of electric, hydrogen and alternative methods of mobility then I don't think as many people would be as interested in it.

'The reason you have seen car racing develop as big as it is is because it is accessible; people can drive cars and the reason they want to do it is because they see the races. The thing with electric mobility is that more and more people are going to be interested in the racing and hopefully this is going to be the starting point for making it accessible for everyone.'

HRH Prince Sultan added: 'You inspire the next generation by showing them that it's possible and by giving them access. Yesterday, we had an open day for 150 to 200 schoolchildren and when they're here doing all of this, then it stays (in their minds)'.

E1 features top teams owned by some of the best-known celebrities in the world such as Tom Brady, Will Smith, Didier Drogba, Rafael Nadal, Steve Aoki and more. Teams have two pilots – one male, one female – powering futuristic, all-electric RaceBirds. Following the Jeddah event, the E1 season continues at six different marine locations – including Doha, Lake Como, Monaco, and Miami – across the globe throughout the year.

Asked what he enjoyed most about E1, HRH Prince Sultan replied: 'The competition. Honestly, I've never before seen such friendly competition here. When you speak to the pilots and team members, it feels like one big family – until they're on the water. When they're on the water, it's fierce competition. The moment they leave the water, we joke and laugh about it and congratulate each other on the results, but the competition is there properly. It's positive competition, it's not negative competition. '

2025 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF teams, owners and pilots:

• Racing Team Aoki – Team owner: Steve Aoki (USA); Male pilot: Dani Clos (Spain); Female pilot: Mashael Al Obaidan (Saudi Arabia)
• Team Blue Rising – Team owner: Virat Kohli (India); Male pilot: John Peeters (USA); Female pilot: Sara Misir (Jamaica)
• Team Brady – Team owner: Tom Brady (USA); Male pilot: Sam Coleman (UK); Female pilot: Emma Kimilainen (Finland)
• Team Brazil by Claure Group – Team owner: Marcelo Claure (Bolivia-USA); Male pilot: Timmy Hansen (Sweden); Female pilot: Marit Stromoy (Norway)
• Team Drogba – Team owner: Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast); Male pilot: Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq (Kuwait); Female pilot: Oban Duncan (UK)
• Team Miami powered by Magnus – Team Owner: Marc Anthony (USA); Male pilot: Erik Stark (Sweden); Female pilot: Anna Glennon (USA)
• Team Rafa – Team owner: Rafael Nadal (Spain); Male pilot: Tom Chiappe (France); Female Driver: Cris Lazarraga (Spain)
• Westbrook Racing – Team Owner: Will Smith (USA); Male Driver: Lucas Ordonez (Spain); Female Driver: Sara Price (USA)
• Team AlUla – Team Champion: Lebron James (USA); Male Driver: Rusty Wyatt (Canada); Female Driver: Catie Munnings (UK)
• The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, the world's only all-electric raceboat championship, transcends traditional racing and champions a vision of revolutionising marine transportation. The introduction of charging points at race venues marks a shift towards greener marine practices.

E1 also aligns fully with the vision of the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation, which promotes sustainable practices, champions the aspiration for excellence in athletic performance, and encourages broad participation across all levels of society.

Tickets to witness Saturday's E1 Jeddah GP final remain available via E1 Jeddah GP | webook.com | webook.com.