Electric powerboat racing has appeared for the time in Angola. This has caught attention in a country where football and basketball’re the main sports.
The E1 World Championship held its Luanda race over the weekend. NBA star LeBron James was one of the celebrity team owners who came to the event.
LeBron James owns an E1 team. LeBron James joined well‑known investors such as Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady, Didier Drogba, Virat Kohli and Will Smith.
The series aims to mix powerboat racing with sustainability and green technology. The boats are powered by electricity. Can reach speeds close to 100 kilometres per hour.
The Luanda event was also part of Angola’s plan to raise awareness and to promote tourism and investment.
Tourism Minister Marcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel said Angola wanted to turn the attention that E1 created into future tourism, investment and job opportunities.
E1 also added marine conservation projects around the event such as mangrove restoration.
However the championship raises questions about its impact. E1’s sustainability report says emissions grew from 1,672 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in the season, to 4,049 tonnes in the second season.
E1 chief executive Jamie Copas acknowledged the challenge. Jamie Copas said the series is working to cut and offset its carbon footprint.
Team Brady won the Luanda race because a mechanical problem stopped Westbrook Racing from winning.
E1 will return to Luanda in 2027 and 2028.
