Will Smith, the Hollywood actor and owner of the Visit Angola Westbrook Racing team, was in Luanda on Thursday, March 26 to help announce Angola as the newest location on the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF calendar.
The E1 Luanda GP 2026 is scheduled for September 12 and 13, making Angola the Championship’s second African race location and its first in Southern Africa. Luanda joins a calendar that includes Monaco, Miami and Lake Como.
Smith appeared alongside E1 founder and Chairman Alejandro Agag and Angola’s Minister of Tourism, Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, for the announcement in the Angolan capital.
“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!” — Will Smith, Visit Angola Westbrook Racing
Luanda’s maritime credentials
Luanda is one of Africa’s most important maritime gateways, with a rich marine history that E1 sees as a natural fit for the series. The city will work with the Championship to promote its sustainability efforts, backed in part by major investments in hydroelectric power.
Angola is accelerating investment in sport, infrastructure and sustainable development, and the Luanda GP forms part of a broader effort to raise the country’s international sporting profile.
Teams and broadcast
The E1 RaceBirds will make their Angolan debut on the Atlantic coast, raced by male and female pilots representing each of the Championship’s ten teams. The ownership group includes DJ Steve Aoki, former Chelsea and Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba, NFL quarterback Tom Brady and NBA champion LeBron James.
Race coverage reaches viewers across more than 230 territories through DAZN and SuperSport, alongside the E1 YouTube channel.
“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.” — Alejandro Agag, E1 founder and Chairman
“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.” — Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, Minister of Tourism
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.
