During the weekend of June 13 and 14, the historic debut of the UIM E1 World Championship series in Croatia delivered a spectacular event on both water and land, featuring record attendance and adrenaline-filled races on the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic. The Aoki Racing Team, led by former F1 test driver Dani Clos, triumphed in the inaugural E1 Dubrovnik GP race, securing their second gold of the season and taking the lead in the overall championship standings.
The victory propelled the Aoki Racing team ahead of Rafael Nadal’s Team Rafa in the overall championship standings, as the tennis legend’s team finished only fourth in the final.
Clos, supported by teammate Mashael Alobaidan, crossed the finish line first ahead of Team Brady, while Team AlUla — backed by NBA superstar LeBron James — secured their first podium finish in the E1 championship. The Dubrovnik race marked the third round of the season following initial events in Jeddah and Doha, with the next stop scheduled for Italy’s Lake Maggiore in late June.
Photo Credits: Francois Asal
E1 is the first and only world championship for electric powerboat racing, sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) — the international governing body for water motorsport. This innovative championship was created to deliver dynamic and thrilling races powered by electric technologies, with a special focus on innovations that contribute to the protection and restoration of urban waterways and coastal environments.
The competition brings together teams comprised of both male and female drivers, with races held in prestigious global cities including Jeddah, Doha, Monaco, and Miami. Team owners include some of the biggest names in entertainment, sports, and business, such as LeBron James, Will Smith, Mark Anthony, and Steve Aoki, as well as Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady, Virat Kohli, Didier Drogba, and Marcelo Claure.
MORE THAN A RACE: EDUCATION, ECOLOGY, AND INNOVATION
Beyond the thrilling on-water competition, the E1 weekend in Dubrovnik featured a series of educational and environmental initiatives aimed at raising awareness about marine conservation and developing the blue economy.
Friday kicked off with the Run Blue – Dubrovnik Edition, a 5-kilometer charity awareness run organized by Westbrook Racing, aiming to highlight the global water crisis, climate change, biodiversity, and freshwater protection. Simultaneously, a large-scale sea cleanup took place at Banje Beach, led by the Croatia Powerboating Club and Innovamare. Divers and volunteers collected marine debris, which children later transformed into jewelry and artworks — a powerful symbol of circular creativity and learning through play.
At Lazareti, the Blue Natural Capital Summit was held under the honorary patronage of the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sport and the Croatian Chamber of Commerce. Panel discussions brought together representatives from international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, European Investment Bank, IUCN, and Innovamare to explore how Croatia can convert its marine resources into a long-term national advantage. The summit attracted high-level officials and international experts, with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković attending and meeting with E1 championship co-founders Alejandro Agag and Rodi Basso.
The centerpiece of the program was the E1 Acceleration Festival, featuring exhibitions of marine technologies, VR simulators, university projects, the E1 Blue Hackathon (a competition for students and young entrepreneurs focused on sustainability solutions), culinary offerings, and children’s workshops combining creativity, ecology, and technology.
Saturday was dedicated to the E1 Blue Leadership Program at Banje Beach, including panels on concrete local projects and regenerative ocean conservation models. Artworks made from waste were showcased alongside children and summit guests, followed by a gala dinner at Revelin Fortress, which featured the presentation of the Dubrovnik Manifesto on the blue economy and a display of Dalmatian culinary and cultural heritage.
THE ELECTRIC FUTURE OF WATER SPORT
The RaceBird boats used in the E1 series are fully electric, fast, and quiet, engineered for maximum performance with minimal environmental impact, aligning with global climate neutrality goals. These futuristic boats enable sustainable competition in urban and protected marine areas, promoting eco-friendly innovation and sustainability in water sports.
Photo Credits: Shiv Gohil
With this event, Dubrovnik has once again established itself as a hub of innovation, sport, and sustainability in the Mediterranean, while Croatia demonstrated its organizational capabilities and strategic commitment to sustainable development.
The next E1 Championship races will take place in Italy, Monaco, and Miami, culminating in November with the crowning of the first-ever world champion in electric powerboat racing. The rivalry between Aoki Racing and Team Rafa promises an exciting continuation of the season.
Find out more: https://www.e1series.com/
