3 E1 RACING SERIES KICKS OFF
The much anticipated E1 electric powerboat championship finally kicks into action this year with a series of seven international races featuring a host of celebrity team owners.
The futuristic looking Racebird boats are propelled by an all-new 150kw electric outboard from Mercury Racing powered by Kreisel lithium ion batteries.
State-of-the-art foils, trim and steering technology allow these 1,200kg craft to fly around the race courses at speeds of up to 50 knots. Limited range means the drivers will compete over three 10-12 minute knock-out races. Tight, demanding circuits are promised to encourage close racing.
The first race takes place in Jeddah over the weekend of February 2-3, followed by Venice (May 11-12), Puerto Banús (June 1-2), Geneva (June 29-30), Monaco GP (July 26-27), Rotterdam (September 7-8) and Hong Kong GP (November 9-10).
Eight teams are expected to compete in the first Jeddah GP. Seven have already signed up, including high-profile team owners such as Rafael Nadal, Didier Drogba, Sergio Pérez, Virat Kohli and American football legend Tom Brady. US singer-songwriter Marc Anthony and DJ Steve Aoki are also competing, while Brazilian billionaire Marcelo Claure is due to take ownership of the eighth team in January.
E1 is a one-design race series, meaning all competing boats are identical save for the team regalia. They were built in Italy by Seabird Technologies in association with Victory Design, which will assist with maintenance going forward. Race teams lease them for the season.
The series is being overseen by official racing body, the UIM (Union Internationale Motonautique). Broadcast rights have not yet been announced but keep an eye on www.e1series.com for viewing details.