Team Brazil capped off an impeccable weekend in Nigeria with a thrilling win at the E1 Lagos GP, seizing the maiden race in Africa to claim their first win in the all-electric powerboat series on Sunday.
Powered by their pole position from Saturday’s qualifying, Team Brazil duly capitalised from the group races to the final, with Timmy Hansen delivering a flawless performance on the water.
They had the fastest time in the practice session and topped the qualifying race on Saturday before winning the final on Sunday.
They beat Team Blue Rising, owned by Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli, to second place while Team Drogba Global Africa, which is co-owned by Ivory Coast football legend and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Gabrielle Lemaire, finished third.
Team Brazil got 38 points for their win, taking their tally up to 89 points. However, they are still far off from the title in seventh position, ahead of the final race of the season next month in Miami.
‘We came to Lagos and we had a fantastic time. It is important with the race format to have the best starting lane, so you want to start on the inside, and we had it. Thanks to the team, I had a brilliant start, and it was smooth sailing’, Hansen told our correspondent.
There was no place on the podium for suspects Team Rafa and Team Brady, who have been in a tussle at the top of the championship standings ahead of the E1 Lagos GP.
However, Team Brady remains top of the championship standings despite finishing fourth. Their 19 points from an electrifying weekend in Lagos take them up to 154 points.
They are still separated from Team Rafa, owned by tennis legend Rafael Nada by three points. Piloted by Cris Lazarraga and Tom Chiappe, Team Rafa finished fifth in Lagos with 17 points, taking their season’s tally to 151points.
Kohli’s Blue Rising remains third in the standings with 145 points.
The E1 is an all-electric powerboat race which began last year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Lagos became the first city in Africa to host the championship.
The E1 Lagos GP was also the penultimate race of the season, setting the tone for the championship battle ahead of the season finale in Miami next month.
Speaking to journalists during the championship on Sunday, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the first-of-its-kind event in Africa as a demonstration of the state’s commitment to innovation and clean energy.
‘Hosting the E1 series is not just about sports, it is about innovation, environmental responsibility, and putting Lagos on the global map for future-focused development’, Sanwo-Olu said.
