The 2026 UIM E1 World Championship grid has taken shape with nine teams confirming their driver lineups ahead of the season opener at Jeddah on 23-24 January.
Six teams have announced changes from their 2025 campaigns, with championship-winning Team Brady retaining their driver pairing whilst rivals rebuild around new personnel.
Team Miami Overhaul
E1 Team Miami has completed a comprehensive restructure following a ninth-place finish in 2025. Steve Curtis has been appointed Team Principal, bringing nine UIM Class 1 World Championship titles to the Marc Anthony-owned operation.
Timmy Hansen and Patricia Pita Gago will pilot for the team. Hansen joins from Team Brazil, where he scored four podiums across two seasons. Pita Gago steps up from her 2025 reserve role after competing at the Miami finale.
The changes replace Erik Stark and Anna Glennon.
Monaco Makes Championship Debut
Team Monaco confirmed Maxime Nocher and Oban Duncan as pilots for the Principality’s E1 debut. The team has been in development for 19 months following an initiative from Prince Albert II.
Nocher, an 11-time kitefoil world champion, will compete as both CEO and pilot. Duncan, 19, becomes the youngest driver on the grid after moving from Team Drogba.
Confirmed 2026 Driver Lineups
| Team | Driver 1 | Driver 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Team AlUla | Rusty Wyatt | Nerea Martí |
| Aoki Racing Team | Dani Clos | Sara Misir |
| Sierra Racing Club | TBC | TBC |
| Team Blue Rising | TBC | TBC |
| Team Brady | Sam Coleman | Emma Kimiläinen |
| Team Drogba Global Africa | TBC | TBC |
| Team Miami powered by Magnus | Timmy Hansen | Patricia Pita Gago |
| Team Monaco | Maxime Nocher | Oban Duncan |
| Team Rafa | Tom Chiappe | Cris Lazarraga |
| Westbrook Racing | Sara Price | Lucas Ordóñez |
Team AlUla, championed by LeBron James, will field Rusty Wyatt and Nerea Martí. Team Brady begin the defence of their championship with the unchanged pairing of Sam Coleman and Emma Kimiläinen, who secured back-to-back titles at the Miami finale in November.
Team Rafa, owned by tennis legend Rafael Nadal, will compete with Tom Chiappe and Cris Lazarraga.
Three teams have yet to announce their complete driver lineups. Sierra Racing Club, Team Blue Rising and Team Drogba Global Africa have not revealed their 2026 pairings.
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.
