Three months ago, Rianna O’Meara-Hunt had never driven an E1 RaceBird. This week at Lake Como, she races as a full-time pilot for one of the championship’s most recognisable teams.
The 24-year-old New Zealander stepped in as a late reserve for Sierra Racing Club at the 2026 season opener in Jeddah, with no prior experience in electric foiling powerboats. She progressed to Q2, reached the Final, and impressed sufficiently to earn a permanent seat with E1 Team Miami, powered by MAGNUS.
O’Meara-Hunt’s appointment was confirmed on April 13. Lake Como on April 24-25 is her first race in Miami colours, partnering male pilot Timmy Hansen.
A Racing CV Built on Breaking Ground
Before her move to electric powerboats, O’Meara-Hunt built her reputation in GT racing. In 2023, she was part of the first all-female duo to win a GT4 race for Aston Martin, taking a double victory at Indianapolis. She is an Aston Martin Racing Elite Academy driver and, earlier in her career, beat future Formula 1 names – including Liam Lawson – in junior karting in Australia and New Zealand.
Her E1 reserve appearance in Jeddah demonstrated the same adaptability: quick assimilation, measured aggression, a result that spoke for itself.
O’Meara-Hunt said:
“I’m really excited to be joining the team at Lake Como. It’s an incredible venue, and I’m focused on learning quickly, building confidence in the RaceBird, and contributing as much as I can from the start.”
Team Miami’s Lake Como Record
Team Miami have history at this venue. In Season 1, they qualified third, putting themselves in front-running contention, before a difficult semi-final left them seventh overall. The contrast between strong qualifying pace and a compromised race outcome captures exactly the margin for error at Como.
The team finished seventh in Jeddah at the 2026 opener. Team principal Steve Curtis is clear the result did not reflect their capability, and the months since have been spent on preparation.
Curtis said:
“We’ve been putting in the work since Jeddah. Everyone in the team has been doing their bit to get us into a stronger position for this week and I think we’ve made good progress over the past three months. Lake Como is one of the most demanding courses of the season, so this round is all about discipline and making the right decisions in every moment. This is where the strong teams will separate themselves from the pack and we’ll be looking to make our mark in qualifying tomorrow.”
A Different Challenge from Jeddah
Lake Como is the longest course of the E1 season. The wide, high-speed layout in Jeddah gives way to a technical circuit framed by mountains and historic villas – a very different test in handling and race strategy.
Hansen said:
“After Jeddah, we’ve had time to reflect and reset as a team. The margins are incredibly tight this year, so any small improvements we can achieve will make a big difference and we’re feeling good coming into this event. Como is a very different challenge, but it’s one where we know we can be competitive.”
E1 Team Miami, powered by MAGNUS, is co-owned by music artist Marc Anthony. Round 2 of the UIM E1 World Championship takes place at Lake Como on April 24-25, 2026.
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.
