E1 lands in Luanda with Will Smith as Championship announces new Angola race
With the help of Will Smith, one of the series' team owners, E1 has announced that Angola will host a round of the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF this September.
The E1 Luanda GP 2026 will see the world’s first all electric raceboat Championship visit Angola’s capital city on the weekend of September 12 to 13, marking another important milestone in the sport’s continued international growth.
Will Smith, owner of the Visit Angola Westbrook Racing team, was in Luanda today to announce the news alongside E1 founder and Chairman Alejandro Agag and the Minister of Tourism, Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel.
Will said: "Africa has always embodied passion and relentless drive. E1 in Angola is more than a moment; it’s a movement. This September, the world will be watching and I’m excited to be part of it!”
Angola joins as E1’s second race location on the African continent, and the first in Southern Africa. The new round of the Championship sits alongside other iconic host cities on the calendar, including Monaco, Miami and Lake Como.
With its rich marine history and resources, Luanda is one of Africa’s most important maritime gateways. The city will work with E1 to highlight its sustainability efforts, driven in part by major investments in hydroelectric power, and will reinforce Africa’s growing role in the evolution of electric racing on water.
With its growing presence on the global sporting stage, Angola is accelerating investment in sport, infrastructure and sustainable development. This momentum aligns with E1’s mission, as the Championship brings cutting-edge electric marine technology and a powerful platform to accelerate sustainable innovation on water.
The E1 RaceBirds raced by teams and their male and female pilots will make their debuts in Angolan waters, bringing electric racing to a landmark setting on the Atlantic coast.
E1 continues to gain worldwide attention with a Championship featuring ten teams owned by high-profile sports celebrities, including DJ Steve Aoki, international footballer and African legend Didier Drogba, NFL icon Tom Brady and NBA champion Lebron James.
The race action will be shown to fans in over 230 territories including broadcasters such as DAZN and SuperSport alongside the E1 YouTube channel.
Alejandro Agag, founder and Chairman of E1 said: "We are delighted to welcome Luanda, Angola as a major new stop on E1’s global calendar and another statement of intent as we look to continue to grow our international audiences. It’s great having Will Smith here as one of our team owners to back this exciting new race location and to see his and the people’s enthusiasm for our unique form of racing on water.
“Luanda is also consistent with E1’s mission to race in locations embodying innovation, environmental ambition and a deep connection to the water. Angola delivers on all three, and we couldn’t be more excited to race here late this year.”
Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism said: “We are proud to see Angola as the newest E1 race destination. With its international footprint, E1 offers a powerful platform to highlight our country’s potential and future.
“E1’s strong focus on sustainability also aligns with Angola’s vision for responsible tourism, innovation, and long-term destination development. Angola is looking forward to seeing the E1 RaceBirds race on Angolan waters.”
