The UIM E1 Series makes its United States debut in Miami on 7-8 November, bringing the all-electric powerboat racing championship to American waters for the first time as the 2025 season reaches its conclusion.
With just three points separating the top two teams and 20 points covering the top four, the Miami Seaplane Base will host one of the tightest championship finales in the series’ brief history.
Championship on a Knife Edge
After six rounds across three continents, reigning 2024 champions Team Brady hold the lead on 154 points. However, tennis legend Rafael Nadal’s Team Rafa trails by only three points on 151, with Team Blue Rising third on 145 and Aoki Racing Team fourth on 134 points.
The tight margins mean the title race remains wide open heading into the season finale.
Championship Standings (After Lagos)
Team
Owner
Points
Team Brady
Tom Brady
154
Team Rafa
Rafael Nadal
151
Team Blue Rising
Virat Kohli
145
Aoki Racing Team
Steve Aoki
134
Westbrook Racing
Will Smith
94
Team Drogba Global Africa
Didier Drogba
90
Team Brazil
Claure Group
89
Team AlUla
LeBron James
84
Team Miami
Marc Anthony
39
Lagos Sets Up Miami Showdown
Team Brazil claimed their maiden victory at the E1 Lagos GP in October, the first all-electric powerboat race held on African waters. However, their win came too late in the season to mount a championship challenge.
Team Brady’s fourth-place finish in Lagos yielded 19 points, just enough to maintain their narrow advantage over Team Rafa, who finished fifth with 17 points.
Star-Studded Ownership
The championship has attracted some of the world’s most recognisable names as team owners. Tom Brady’s seven Super Bowl victories make him arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history. His team will be fighting to retain the championship they won in the inaugural 2024 season.
Will Smith owns Westbrook Racing, whilst LeBron James leads Team AlUla. Marc Anthony, the Grammy-winning music icon, will see his Team Miami compete on home waters against the Miami skyline.
E1 Lagos GP – Photo: Craig Evans / Spacesuit Media
North American Representation
Nine teams will compete in Miami, each featuring both a male and female pilot who share equal driving duties throughout the weekend. North American talents Sara Price, Rusty Wyatt and John Peeters are among the pilots competing.
The RaceBird electric hydrofoil boats reach speeds of up to 50 knots (93 km/h) as they race across the water, rising above the surface on aluminium hydrofoils once reaching 17 knots.
Weekend Entertainment
Cirque du Soleil will provide entertainment during the weekend with a performance created exclusively for E1. The production will blend acrobatics, artistry and music.
Bombay Sapphire, the championship’s official cocktail partner, will serve Bombay Sapphire Sparkling Lemon to guests throughout the weekend.
The Miami weekend follows the established E1 format, with Friday’s qualifying rounds determining grid positions for Saturday’s semi-finals, play-off race, eliminator race, place race and finals.
Each race consists of four laps, with teams required to complete both a long lap and short lap at some point during the race, adding a tactical element to the competition.
“Miami knows how to throw a party, and this is going to be one for the books. Championship racing on the water, celebrity team owners, world-class hospitality, and a winner-takes-all finale that could go down to the wire.
“Whether you’re a racing fan or just want an incredible weekend experience, the E1 Miami GP is where you want to be November 7th and 8th.”
John Williams, Managing Director at E1 Series, said those words ahead of the championship decider.
The Miami Seaplane Base provides a dramatic backdrop for the season finale, with the city’s skyline forming a striking setting for what promises to be a closely-fought conclusion to the 2025 UIM E1 World Championship.
John Moore’s 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 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
