H2O Racing announced on Friday, September 4, 2026, that Gorilla Energy would become an Official Sponsor of the UIM F1H2O World Championship, with branding across race venues, championship communications and digital platforms for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Raimondo di San Germano, CEO of H2O Racing, said:
We are delighted to have finalised our agreement with Gorilla Energy. Like our F1H2O Championship, they are a growing brand with increasing global reach, meaning their mission closely aligns with ours.
The Kazakhstan Connection
Gorilla Energy’s production base sits in Kazakhstan, run through its Gorilla Asia operation. According to Gorilla Asia’s own figures, reported independently by Kazakh business outlet Kursiv in December 2025, the company exports more than 60 million litres of beverages a year from Kazakhstan, earning it that country’s Exporter of the Year recognition, and supports around 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. Its export markets include Central Asia, the Caucasus, Mongolia and South Korea, with Pakistan and China planned.
That regional footprint was already visible at F1H2O’s most recent Central Asian outing. Official event photography from the Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan, July 31 to August 2, shows a branded Gorilla Lite activation on site at Lake Issyk-Kul, the championship’s first race in the region.
Kazakhstan itself is also in the frame for F1H2O’s calendar. In July, an agreement was announced covering a stage of the championship at the Kapchagay Reservoir in Almaty region in 2027, signed between local authorities and F1H2O representatives, though H2O Racing and the UIM have not confirmed it through their own channels.
Who Is Gorilla Energy
Gorilla Energy was founded in New York in 2008 and is now headquartered in Los Angeles and Dubai. The company operates in around 30 countries. Ahmed Elafifi, formerly of Coca-Cola, was appointed CEO in 2025.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
