Former footballer Drogba is E1’s newest boat racing team owner

The UIM E1 World Championship electrical boat racing league has discovered its newest group because it prepares to launch its inaugural season later this 12 months. Former Chelsea and Ivory Coast footballer Didier Drogba and his associate Gabrielle LeMaire have signed on as house owners of the fourth E1 racing group to affix the rising league.

The UIM E1 World Championship is a nascent electrical boat racing league created by Formula E and Excessive E founder, Alejandro Agag, and Rodi Basso – a former director of Motorsport at McLaren with a background in Method 1 engineering.

We’ve been following the brand new sport’s progress for over a 12 months because it has advanced from testing its all-electric RaceBird boats, to a rising league of groups led by some acquainted names. Venice emerged because the inaugural E1 race team in April of 2022, and was quickly adopted by group Mexico owned by Method 1 driver Sergio Perez.

Early this 12 months, we shared information that tennis nice Rafael Nadal had signed on as E1’s subsequent group proprietor, bringing his native Spain into the fold to compete on the water. Because the younger championship collection continues to develop (and tries) to fill all ten of its initial team slots this 12 months, it has discovered its newest group proprietor in soccer (or soccer) legend Didier Drogba.

Crew Drogba joins E1 donning the Ivory Coast flag

E1 introduced the addition of Crew Drogba to the UIM Championship this morning, which will probably be co-owned and managed with the footballer’s associate, Gabrielle LeMaire – a profitable businesswoman and advertising and marketing knowledgeable. E1 cofounder and CEO Rodi Basso spoke about what the brand new Crew Drogba house owners deliver to the league:

This group is so thrilling for the E1 Sequence, mixing range, inclusion and sustainability with a hearth to compete and win. They’re a dynamic duo that present how necessary it’s to have equal illustration and alternatives for women and men in motorsport, from the boardroom to the cockpit. And their dedication to ocean well being and technological change will assist take E1’s message additional and wider. It’s thrilling to see the fleet take form and there’s extra large bulletins within the pipeline.

Just like his new rival “Rafa” Nadal, Drogba’s basis helps sustainable developments exterior of the aggressive arenas to make a constructive affect on the planet. The previous footballer and his associate additionally assist present a constructive affect on the lives of African kids dwelling in poverty.

Collectively, the brand new E1 house owners hope Crew Drogba will help the brand new E1 collection attain a world viewers and encourage it to affix the race to create a extra sustainable world. Drogba spoke to the possession alternative and the people who have impressed him:

Sport and sustainability collectively, it’s a successful mixture. Gabrielle and I are each fierce opponents so we’re going to construct a powerful group. We’re impressed by legends equivalent to Senna and Schumacher, however most particularly by Lewis Hamilton, successful F1 championships, breaking boundaries and performing as a frontrunner for a brand new technology of pilots.

Air pollution has triggered the destruction and lack of coastal habitats around the globe. The degradation of our underwater eco-systems poses a collection risk to marine life and livelihoods of coastal communities. So we need to have a constructive affect by way of the accelerated growth of unpolluted applied sciences and provoking change. However we’re additionally going to have enjoyable for an amazing trigger. Rafa and Checo, prepare! We’re coming for you. And we’re right here to win!

The inaugural UIM E1 World Championship is scheduled to start later this 12 months as race
organizers state they may proceed to speed up preparations, promising extra groups and confirmed race venues quickly. Higher hurry.

Electrek’s Take

That is one other large get by E1 because it seems to be to deliver as a lot hype to season 1 as potential… each time that could be. The unique schedule was initially anticipated to start this previous spring, however we nonetheless appear to be a methods away as E1 is now saying “late 2023” for a championship collection kickoff.

The nascent collection now has 4 groups, however has at all times hoped to start racing with at the very least ten, so it’s going to should hustle to seek out extra house owners rapidly to get a viable competitors collectively.

Though I do need to see E1 racing start sooner somewhat than later, I don’t thoughts ready as a result of I’m genuinely not sure what I’m ready for, that means I’m not even positive what to anticipate in electrical boat racing. The prospect of it seems to be promising, and the adjoining deal with foundations and the atmosphere is a giant plus – just like Method E. Individuals love a model with a constructive trigger.

I’m wanting ahead to seeing what nations/groups/house owners take part subsequent and the way nicely season one goes. I’d very very similar to to see a contest in particular person, however E1 has to get there first. I’ll be watching!