2026 E1 Championship Kicks Off in Jeddah: RaceBirds, New Teams and Venues

The 2026 E1 Electric Speedboat Championship began in Jeddah with ten teams competing in the one‑design RaceBird hydrofoiling boats across an expanded nine‑round calendar, including a new Bahamas stop in October and a September site still to be confirmed; Lago Maggiore’s Italian leg has been moved to nearby Lake Como.

Season overview and logistics at a glance

The event weekend in Jeddah followed the series’ two‑day format: Day One for time trials and eliminations, Day Two for group races, the Race Off and Finals. Race organization required port coordination for spectator zones, security perimeters for foiling circuits and dedicated marine traffic lanes for safety. Championship scoring remains cumulative: teams earn points per weekend and via qualifying bonuses.

Calendar changes and venue notes

• Expanded calendar: 9 race weekends (up from 7 the previous season).
• New stops: Bahamas (October) and a to‑be‑determined September venue.
• Italian leg: Lago Maggiore moved to Lake Como — better spectator access and local marina infrastructure.
• Doha: absent from this year’s itinerary.

Teams, ownership and liveries

The Series continues its model of celebrity and entrepreneur ownership, with distinctive team liveries and marketing tie‑ins that also act as tourism attractors in host ports.

Pilot movements and line‑up highlights

• Ieva Millere‑Hagin moved from Team Brazil to Team Drogba; Timmy Hansen shifted to Team Miami.
• Erik Stark joined Sierra from Team Miami, with Catie Munnings moving from Team AlUla to Sierra.
• Oban Duncan (19) transferred to Team Monaco, pairing with kite‑surf champion Maxime Nocher.
• New faces include former car racer Nerea Martí on Team AlUla and rally driver Patricia Pita Gago on Team Miami.
• Several pilot swaps maintain gender‑balanced crews: mixed male and female pilots compete side by side in each race.

E1 series: rules and scoring

Weekend points are awarded by finishing place (1st: 38, 2nd: 30, 3rd: 23, down to 10th: 3). Qualifying bonuses (3/2/1) and a fastest‑lap point add tactical value. Each event’s Finals and Place Race dictate the points allocation that determines the Championship. Qualifying features four stages with progressive eliminations to establish Saturday pole positions.

How these races affect tourism and local services

Major waterfront race weekends drive short‑term tourism demand: hotels near marina districts fill fast, restaurants extend hours, and local operators ramp up marine excursions such as spectator boat charters and exclusive yacht parties. Ports must coordinate logistics — berth availability, public transport for fans and temporary signage — to cope with spectator flows. Events like E1 also support niche offerings: museum tours with live guides, culinary experiences, and interactive cultural workshops for visiting fans.

Travel planners and tour operators can capitalise on the series by packaging race tickets with cruise packages, yacht charters for events or curated shore excursions. For travellers seeking tailored experiences or secure booking options, platforms like GetExperience.com allow full and secure payments with voucher confirmation, and offer the ability to submit requests so providers can tailor offers to specific preferences.

The Jeddah race demonstrated how a well‑managed sporting event can coexist with tourist itineraries: fans could combine on‑water viewing with local cultural visits, adapting plans quickly thanks to flexible excursion providers and clear port schedules.

Highlights: the season expansion, the Lake Como switch, and Sierra Racing’s aerospace livery are among the most interesting developments — but even the best previews and reviews can’t replace attending a race yourself. On GetExperience you book experiences from verified providers at reasonable prices, helping you avoid surprises while enjoying convenience, affordability and a wide range of additional options that match your interests. Book your Trip GetExperience.com

In summary, the 2026 E1 championship’s Jeddah launch underlines a growing intersection of clean‑tech motorsport and destination tourism: ten teams in RaceBird hydrofoils, an expanded nine‑race calendar, pilot reshuffles and new venues create fresh travel experiences. Visitors can expect adventure activities, luxury adventure travel experiences, yacht parties and exclusive yacht charters for events, eco‑friendly wildlife safaris nearby in some regions, cruise packages, museum tours with live guides, interactive online cultural workshops and even online virtual tours to prep for a trip. Whether you’re after beginner esports coaching sessions or professional esports training programs, or adventure rafting trips for beginners, the E1 season adds another reason to plan a trip around live sporting spectacle and curated travel experiences.