Aoki Racing Team claimed victory in the opening round of the 2026 UIM E1 World Championship, with Sara Misir and Dani Clos winning both Finals in Jeddah to secure the season-opening Grand Prix.

The victory capped a dramatic day for the team after being eliminated in fourth position during the Race Off, then fighting back through the Finals to take 40 championship points from the season opener.

Final 1: Penalties Disrupt Title Contenders

After a hold at the race start with pilots told to sit tight and wait, Dani Clos took Aoki Racing Team to victory in Final 1. Team Brady’s Sam Coleman finished second after fighting from fourth place on the penultimate lap, with Nerea Martí third for Team AlUla.

The race was decided by strategic timing. Coleman and Sara Price (Westbrook Racing) took early long laps, while Aoki left theirs until the final lap. Clos built an early lead and held it for four laps with Tom Chiappe (Team Rafa) tracking behind.

Chiappe’s race unravelled with a long lap penalty for a starting infringement, closing the door on two other boats. The penalty destroyed Team Rafa’s race, dropping them from first to fifth.

I’m really disappointing because normally I was in P1 and I make a good start, but in the starting gate we don’t have enough space. So I have to check the TV because they say I pushed [AlUla], but it’s not really clear in my side.

Coleman’s charge from fourth to second on the penultimate lap wasn’t enough to catch Clos.

Yeah we got this one. Now let’s go for the important one that it’s the final. And yeah for sure Sara is gonna do an amazing job and let’s keep in doing this. Beware of the dragon guys. Beware the dragon.

Place Race: Miami Take Seventh

Team Miami won the Place Race for positions seven through ten in the six-lap contest. Ieva Millere-Hagin (Team Drogba) started from pole but had to use the backup boat.

Timmy Hansen made a great start to take the early lead, followed by John Peeters (Team Blue Rising) who had won the battle of the boost. Peeters took his long lap early, while Oban Duncan (Team Monaco) took an early short lap to move into second place behind Team Miami. Both left their long laps until the final lap.

Hansen secured victory with another superb start.

It was very close between me and JP especially when I hit some dirty water. It’s a bit of redemption winning this race, but not the one we wanted to win.

Peeters, racing solo after Mashael Al-Obaidan’s finger surgery, said he needed to pick up points.

Fortunately everything fell into place at the end but the middle of the race I just couldn’t close the gap.

Final 2: Aoki Racing Team Only Team Under Seven Minutes

Weather conditions were much cooler than Friday’s qualifying for Final 2. Rusty Wyatt summed up the pre-race atmosphere.

Pressure is on and we have worked really hard over the weekend, this is the biggest race for us.

Coleman reflected on the challenging conditions.

Really challenging weekend, not happy that I couldn’t get pole, but one little dip and it’s over. Everyone has gone fast at one point over the weekend.

Absolute mayhem erupted on the opening lap. Aoki took the lead, while Team Brady and Team Rafa made contact down the back straight. Brady went long lap early with AlUla.

Westbrook Racing were running second before receiving two long lap penalties, first for jumping the start, then for not taking their penalty soon enough. The double sanction dropped them to fifth.

By lap four, Brady had completed both long and short laps while Aoki still had their long lap remaining. On the final lap, Brady had only a short lap left, but it wasn’t enough to catch Sara Misir.

Aoki Racing Team clocked 6:52.84, becoming the only team to finish under seven minutes and repeating their 2025 Jeddah victory. Team Brady finished second in 7:07.92, over 15 seconds behind.

Very spicy on that first lap but I had the perfect line at the start thanks to my team mate.

Misir was awarded PIF Driver of the Day.

Emma Kimiläinen secured second place for Team Brady, taking 33 championship points.

It was a tough race, happy to finish in second place as there is something weird happening with the trim settings.

Brady Claim Pole Shootout and Second Place

Sam Coleman reflected on Team Brady’s strong weekend performance.

I think we can be proud of what we’ve achieved this weekend. To bring home the first-ever Pole Shootout is something special. The racing today was really challenging, and all our competitors were strong. The finals were quite chaotic, so we did a great job in both races to get through the dirty water and fight our way back to second. Emma put in an incredible overtake on three boats on the first lap in the final corner, which set her up for a great result. I’m proud of the team and how we executed this weekend. There’s a lot we can learn and tidy up, but overall, we’re really happy with second place. It’s a strong start to a long season – there’s everything to play for.

Sam Coleman with Albert II, Prince of Monaco

Kimiläinen added details about her challenging Final 2 start.

We showed great pace all weekend. It was a tough day of racing, but I’m really happy we finished in second. Huge credit to the team for making the right strategy calls throughout the weekend. The start of my final was difficult – I got squeezed, and there was something strange with the trim settings, so I had to fight hard just to hold second place. In that sense, it felt like a victory in itself. We managed the challenges well as a team and can take away a lot of valuable learnings heading into the next race.

Reserve Driver Impresses

Rianna O’Meara Hunt stepped into the Sierra Racing Club seat after Catie Munnings suffered a leg injury approximately two weeks before the event. The 24-year-old New Zealander partnered Erik Stark to fifth in Friday’s qualifying, then won the Race Off to reach the Finals.

Stark’s Race Off victory came through strategic execution. Asked about his lap strategy decisions, the Swedish driver credited team instructions.

I’m like a robot when it comes to those decisions and do exactly what I am told.

Powerboat News contributor Chris Davies, a 40-year veteran of covering the sport, observed that Stark’s opening lap in the Race Off was some of the best E1 racing seen to date.

Stark now has the pace to take on Team Brady.

Thousands Watch Season Opener

Alejandro Agag, founder and Chairman of E1, presented trophies to the winning team representatives.

Seeing Aoki Racing Team clinch victory here today in Jeddah by beating the defending Champions was an exhilarating spectacle framed against the Red Sea skyline. All the teams were cheered on by thousands of spectators who had gathered here to watch the racing action. Our thanks go to them and our fantastic partners, the Saudi Watersports and Diving Federation and the Ministry of Sport, who have once again extended their hospitality and helped us deliver an incredible event.

E1 Series Jeddah Season Opener Podium

Qualifying and Group Stages

Team Brady took pole position in Friday’s qualifying, with Emma Kimiläinen and Sam Coleman posting the fastest combined time. Aoki Racing Team qualified second, with Team Rafa third.

Saturday’s Group Stages saw Team Brady win Group A and Team AlUla take Group B. The top two teams from each group advanced directly to the Finals, with remaining teams fighting through the Race Off for the final two Finals spots.