Team Drogba Global Africa has confirmed Ieva Millere-Hagin and Micah Wilkinson as its pilot lineup for the 2026 UIM E1 World Championship season, pairing a Lagos Grand Prix winner with an Olympic bronze medalist ahead of the eight-race campaign.

Lagos Winner Joins Drogba Lineup

Millere-Hagin won the historic Lagos Grand Prix in October, dominating every session during Africa’s first E1 World Championship round. Racing for Team Brazil by Claure Group alongside Timmy Hansen, the Latvian pilot set the fastest time in practice, secured pole position in qualifying, then converted into victory.

From Substitute to Race Winner

Millere-Hagin made her E1 debut in Monaco racing for Team Checo, then returned to the series for Lagos when Team Brazil’s regular pilot Marit Strømøy prioritised F1H2O commitments. Her husband, 2022 UIM F2 World Champion Stefan Hagin, served as radioman during the Lagos weekend.

It was an amazing race. The energy, the fans, the atmosphere was just electric. Timmy and I worked perfectly together as a partnership, and everything just clicked.

The Lagos victory came 12 months after her Monaco debut, during which time she tested the RaceBird through the UIM E1 Pilot Academy on Lake Maggiore. Her background includes two F1000 European Championship titles in 2018 and 2019, built on a racing legacy established by her grandfather’s boat-building operation that began in 1962.

Olympic Pedigree in the African Team

Wilkinson brings a 2024 Paris Olympic bronze medal to Team Drogba’s lineup. The New Zealand sailor competed in the Nacra 17 multihull event with Erica Dawson, adding Olympic credentials to the team’s 2026 challenge.

The 28-year-old previously competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and made his E1 debut during the 2025 season. His sailing background in the high-speed Nacra 17 catamaran provided relevant experience for the hydrofoil RaceBird.

During the 2025 season with Team Drogba, he helped secure the team’s podium finish at the Lagos Grand Prix. Team Drogba pilots also recorded the two highest top speeds of the 2024 inaugural season at Venice, with Yousef Al-Abdulrazzaq reaching 93.79 kilometres per hour.

Team Drogba’s African Mission

Co-owned by the Didier Drogba Foundation, Lilium Capital Group and FEDA, Team Drogba Global Africa is the only African team in the E1 World Championship. The organisation focuses on green technologies and sustainable development, aiming to drive progress in Africa’s transition to cleaner energy.

The team achieved two podium finishes during the 2025 season. Owner Didier Drogba advocated for African races since joining the championship, with Lagos delivering record crowds during its 2025 debut.

Millere-Hagin’s Racing Legacy

As Project Manager of Motorsport 77, the operation she founded with her father in 2016, Millere-Hagin manages a 12-pilot programme across six classes. The team has won three Latvian titles since she restructured the organisation following her father’s death in 2018.

Unlike my past races, E1 racing required analyzing data, not just relying on instinct. Engineers awaited feedback after every run, asking about boat response and performance tweaks.

Her technical approach reflects the demands of the RaceBird, which operates on hydrofoil technology and requires detailed feedback to engineers after each session. Working with Steve Curtis at Team Brazil accelerated her development:

It was really nice working with Steve. Thanks to his extensive powerboat racing experience communication was made really easy, and we quickly found effective solutions to improve our performance and become faster.

Eight-Race Global Calendar

The 2026 season expands E1’s international footprint with rounds in Saudi Arabia, Italy, Croatia, Monaco, Nigeria, and two North American events. Team Monaco joins as a new entrant, competing in front of its home crowd in Monaco.

Lagos returns to the calendar, where Millere-Hagin claimed victory three months ago. The venue holds particular significance for Team Drogba, representing the championship’s commitment to showcasing African locations.