Real Madrid and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has become co-owner and global brand ambassador of Sierra Racing Club in the UIM E1 World Championship, joining former Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba among the series’ growing roster of high-profile team owners.
Courtois, 33, has invested through NXTPLAY Capital, the sports investment platform he co-founded with entrepreneur Gonzalo Vila. The announcement on Thursday April 2 drew wide mainstream sports coverage within hours of release.
Sierra Racing Club
Sierra Racing Club is one of two teams new to the 2026 E1 grid, entering alongside Team Monaco. The team is rooted in the Ozmen family’s Turkish-American aerospace and defence business, Sierra Nevada Corporation, which employs more than 5,000 people across 40 locations worldwide. Kerem Ozmen leads the operation as CEO, with entrepreneur Dominik Madani also holding a co-ownership stake.
Courtois said Sierra matched what NXTPLAY Capital looks for in a sports asset: a team with strong identity, technical ambition, and the potential to become one of the reference names in the championship.
“Welcoming Thibaut to Sierra Racing Club and to E1 is an important moment for our team. He brings the mindset of an elite competitor, a truly global platform, and a clear understanding of how modern sport can grow through innovation, purpose, and ambition. His addition strengthens our ability to compete at the highest level while expanding the reach and relevance of our story worldwide.” — Kerem Ozmen, CEO, Sierra Racing Club
The drivers
On the water, Sierra fields Catie Munnings, alongside Erik Stark. Rianna O’Meara Hunt serves as reserve driver, having made her E1 debut at the Jeddah season opener in January.
2026 standings
Sierra sit fifth in the 2026 championship after the Jeddah opener, with 15 points, behind leaders Aoki Racing Team on 40 points.
| Pos | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aoki Racing Team | 40 |
| 2 | Team Brady | 33 |
| 3 | Team AlUla championed by LeBron James | 24 |
| 4 | Westbrook Racing | 19 |
| 5 | Sierra Racing Club | 15 |
| 6 | Team Rafa | 13 |
| 7 | Team Miami powered by Magnus | 9 |
| 8 | Team Blue Rising | 8 |
| 9 | Team Monaco | 5 |
| 10 | Team Drogba Global Africa | — |
Standings after Round 1, Jeddah.
The Chelsea connection
Courtois and Drogba were teammates at Chelsea during the 2014-15 season, winning the Premier League title together before the striker’s departure from Stamford Bridge. Team Drogba Global Africa has been part of the championship since E1 launched in 2024.
The ownership picture
E1’s ten-team grid for 2026 has drawn owners from across sport and entertainment. Tom Brady’s Team Brady are the two-time defending champions. Other team owners include Rafael Nadal, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Will Smith, Steve Aoki, Marc Anthony and Prince Albert of Monaco.
The next round of the 2026 championship takes place at Lake Como, Italy, on Friday April 24 and Saturday April 25.
Off the water, E1 is under new leadership following the appointment of Jamie Copas as CEO in March, replacing co-founder Rodi Basso.
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.
