The UIM E1 World Championship held its third Grand Prix against the historic backdrop of Dubrovnik. Ten teams competed against one another in their electric-powered RaceBirds on the challenging circuit under difficult conditions. At the same time, the ‘Blue Economy Summit’ held on site focused on strategies for creating a climate-neutral future.
First pole position for Westbrook Racing
Angola Westbrook Racing, led by Hollywood actor Will Smith, secured a strong starting position as early as Friday’s qualifying session. Spaniard Lucas Ordóñez and his American team-mate Sara Price clinched the team’s first pole position in difficult weather conditions. Second and third places went to Team Brady and Team Aoki Racing. This meant they secured extra points for the overall standings even before the actual race. Ahead of Saturday’s race day, just 17 points separated the top four teams.
Difficult conditions due to strong winds
On Saturday, conditions off the Old Town in Dubrovnik became even more challenging. Strong winds and a powerful swell made it difficult for the pilots to get into foiling mode, meaning they often had to veer off their ideal line. Whilst Westbrook Racing made it through the group stage unscathed, the Drogba Global Africa team were eliminated early on. Following a strong first heat by New Zealander Micah Wilkinson, his Spanish team-mate Tara Pacheco was disqualified for dangerous riding. Meanwhile, Team Brady, led by NFL icon Tom Brady, secured their place in the final round with two wins in the heats.
Red flag following boat damage in the final
The final races of the E1 Series turned into a closely fought battle between the title favourites. The first race was won by Finland’s Emma Kimiläinen for Team Brady with a start-to-finish victory. However, the decisive second final race had to be interrupted following serious damage, in which the bow of Timmy Hansen’s (Team Miami) boat was torn off after a collision with a wave. The race was halted by a red flag and the session later resumed without the affected boat.
After the restart, Lucas Ordóñez secured the Grand Prix victory for Westbrook Racing, with Team Brady and LeBron James’ Team AlUla finishing in second and third place respectively. With this second consecutive victory, the team has extended its lead at the top of the championship to 12 points ahead of the series’ visit to Monaco next month. Here are the current standings.
Fan zone and sustainability summit in the Old Town
This is only the second time that the still-young Racing series is visiting Dubrovnik. The Grand Prix is a real highlight. Whilst the paddock is situated right in the old town, in front of the historic castle, spectators can get very close to the action free of charge. A fan zone has also been set up, where a RaceBird show boat is on display and simulation experiences are on offer.
Alongside the sporting events, the “Dubrovnik Blue Economy Summit” took place on Friday. As part of this conference, held on the fringes of the E1 Series, representatives of the Croatian government and industry leaders discussed electric racing. This is intended to serve as a model for the transition to electric propulsion in the maritime sector.
You might also be interested in:
David Ingelfinger
Volontär
