Team Drogba Global Africa has confirmed Ieva Millere-Hagin and Micah Wilkinson as its pilot lineup for the 2026 UIM E1 World Championship season, pairing a Lagos Grand Prix winner with an Olympic bronze medalist ahead of the eight-race campaign.

Last-Minute Deal Secures Race Winner

Millere-Hagin won the historic Lagos Grand Prix in October, dominating every session during Africa’s first E1 World Championship round. Racing for Team Brazil by Claure Group alongside Timmy Hansen, the Latvian pilot set the fastest time in practice, secured pole position in qualifying, then converted into victory.

The Team Drogba signing came together rapidly after two seasons as an E1 reserve pilot.

After spending two seasons as an E1 reserve pilot, I finally secured a race seat with Team Drogba Global Africa. The opportunity came together at the last minute, but I was ready to step in and make the most of it.

Her Lagos victory alongside Hansen raised her profile within the E1 paddock.

Winning the E1 Lagos GP presented by FirstBank alongside Timmy Hansen was a huge moment for me. That result helped raise my profile within the paddock and reinforced my confidence.

Established Partnership

Millere-Hagin already knew Wilkinson from the 2025 season before joining Team Drogba. The New Zealand sailor secured two podium finishes during his debut E1 campaign.

I already knew Micah from season 2 before joining the team. He’s proven himself with strong performances last season, including those third-place finishes in Doha and Lagos. I’m really looking forward to working alongside him and pushing the team forward together.

Wilkinson brings a 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medal to the lineup. He competed in the Nacra 17 multihull event with Erica Dawson, adding Olympic credentials to the team’s 2026 challenge. The 28-year-old previously competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Foundation Commitment

Co-owned by the Didier Drogba Foundation, Lilium Capital Group and FEDA, Team Drogba Global Africa is the only African team in the E1 World Championship. The Didier Drogba Foundation focuses on education projects and programmes that contribute to offering better prospects for children.

Millere-Hagin expressed strong commitment to the foundation’s women’s empowerment initiatives.

Empowering women is something I strongly believe in, and I have huge respect for the work the Didier Drogba Foundation does in this area. Being part of a team that stands for more than just racing is really important to me.

Her work in Latvia through Motorsport 77 aligns with the foundation’s educational mission. As Project Manager of the operation she founded with her father in 2016, she manages a 12-pilot programme across six classes.

When we work with young powerboat racers in Latvia, the focus goes far beyond just performance on the water. It’s about teaching discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and giving them the tools to believe in their own potential.

From Substitute to Race Winner

Millere-Hagin made her E1 debut in Monaco racing for Team Checo, then returned to the series for Lagos when Team Brazil’s regular pilot Marit Strømøy prioritised F1H2O commitments. Her husband, 2022 UIM F2 World Champion Stefan Hagin, served as radioman during the Lagos weekend.

It was an amazing race. The energy, the fans, the atmosphere was just electric. Timmy and I worked perfectly together as a partnership, and everything just clicked.

The victory marked Team Brazil’s first success following Steve Curtis’s appointment as Team Principal in late June. Curtis, a nine-time Class 1 Offshore World Champion, transformed the team’s technical operation.

It was really nice working with Steve. Thanks to his extensive powerboat racing experience communication was made really easy, and we quickly found effective solutions to improve our performance and become faster.

Return to Winning Venue

Lagos returns to the 2026 calendar, where Millere-Hagin claimed victory three months ago. The venue holds particular significance for the team.

The calendar looks very exciting. I’ve already had the chance to race in Como, Italy, and Lagos, Nigeria, both of which were incredible experiences. Each venue brings something unique. We will be eager for sure to win a race in Lagos.

Team Drogba achieved two podium finishes during the 2025 season. Owner Didier Drogba advocated for African races since joining the championship, with Lagos delivering record crowds during its 2025 debut. Team Drogba pilots also recorded the two highest top speeds of the 2024 inaugural season at Venice, with Yousef Al-Abdulrazzaq reaching 93.79 kilometres per hour.

Eight-Race Global Calendar

The 2026 season expands E1’s international footprint with rounds in Saudi Arabia, Italy, Croatia, Monaco, Nigeria, and two North American events. Team Monaco joins as a new entrant, competing in front of its home crowd in Monaco.

Chris Davies

If it happened in powerboat racing during the last forty years the chances are that Chris Davies was there either photographing it or writing about it.

During that time, he has travelled the globe covering both offshore and circuit racing for series promotors, race teams, PR companies, and a whole raft of publications.