E1's Miami double-header poles set-up Championship deciders

Sierra Racing Club and Marc Anthony's Sports.com Predict Team Miami Powered by Magnus have claimed pole positions for the final two rounds of the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, setting the stage for a dramatic double-header at the Bombay Sapphire E1 Miami GP 2026.

Sierra Racing Club will start Friday's penultimate round from pole after pilots Erik Stark and Catie Munnings delivered the team's first-ever E1 qualifying victory on the waters of Biscayne Bay.

Team Miami will lead the field into Saturday's Championship decider after Rianna O'Meara-Hunt and Timmy Hansen secured their first pole position of the season on their home waters.

The results set up two days of high-stakes racing on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November, when the Championship's final two rounds will determine who is crowned the 2026 Champions of the Water.

Sierra Racing Club, co-owned by Kyle Kuzma and Thibaut Courtois, set the quickest lap time in Q3 during Wednesday's qualifying session to secure pole position for Round 6.

Having finished fourth in each of the last two races, Stark and Munnings will now be looking to convert their qualifying success into the team's first podium finish of the season.

Thursday's qualifying session for Round 7 saw the home favourites take centre stage. With O'Meara-Hunt at the wheel, Team Miami set the fastest time on the opening run of Q3.

Team Monaco's Oban Duncan mounted a challenge but was unable to better the Miami team's time, handing Marc Anthony's squad a memorable pole position.

Despite entering the weekend at the foot of the standings, back-to-back appearances in Q3 and a pole have given them a welcome boost to end the season on a high.

The qualifying sessions have also intensified the battle for the Championship raging between reigning Champions Team Brady and Will Smith's Westbrook Racing by Visit Angola.

Brady arrived in Miami with a 40-point advantage after pilots Emma Kimiläinen and Sam Coleman finished on the podium at every round this season, including victory last time out in Luanda, but qualifying results mean the gap is now cut to 37.

With 78 points still available across Friday’s and Saturday's races, the Championship remains open to a Westbrook challenge. 

The Miami double-header concludes a season that has taken the Championship from Jeddah to Lake Como, Dubrovnik, Monaco and Luanda, showcasing the performance and innovation of E1's all-electric RaceBirds in some of the world's most iconic waterfront destinations.

As Title Partner of the Bombay Sapphire E1 Miami GP 2026, Bombay Sapphire is bringing a series of activations to Miami throughout the weekend, including the Bombay Sapphire Sparkling Lemon, the official cocktail of E1, available at participating destinations across the city.

E1 has also collaborated with Miami-based artist Romero Britto to transform the race venue into an open-air art exhibition, featuring three new marine characters, a manatee, turtle and dolphin, celebrating the Championship's connection to Miami and the ocean.

Fans attending the event can experience the action from the E1 Ocean Club, the Championship's premium trackside hospitality offering overlooking Biscayne Bay, with elevated hospitality, entertainment and prime views of the racing.

The last remaining E1 Ocean Club passes are available through Fever, E1's Official Ticketing Partner, for both days of the double-header or for individual race days. Pass holders will also receive a limited-edition item from the Romero Britto capsule collection, available exclusively at the event.

Fans can also experience the action from their own boats on Biscayne Bay, while audiences around the world can follow the racing through E1's international broadcast partners.

In the United States, CBS Sports will broadcast race coverage at 16:00 EST on Friday and 16:30 EST on Sunday. Fans worldwide can also watch through the DAZN World Championship Hub and E1's YouTube channel.

Jamie Copas, Chief Executive Officer, E1, said: "On the eve of our 2026 season finale, the excitement is building here in Miami as we prepare for our first-ever double-header.

"Qualifying has delivered some dramatic moments, with Sierra Racing Club and Team Miami securing poles, with Marc Anthony’s local favourites giving the whole City something to celebrate.

“The competition has been exceptional all year, and we're expecting two days of outstanding racing on Biscayne Bay that will culminate in the crowning of our 2026 Champions of the Water."