In a global sporting event that embodies the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s status as a leading destination for major events, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, crowned the “OK Racing Team” with the title of the opening round of the E1 World Powerboat Championship for the 2026 season on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
The coronation ceremony took place on the Jeddah waterfront, in the presence of a high-level audience including His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, His Highness Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi Al Saud, Governor of Jeddah, and guest of honor His Royal Highness Prince Albert II, Prince of Monaco, reflecting the great international interest in this unique championship.
The competition details and results
show that the “OK Racing Team,” comprised of the talented Spanish duo Danny Clos and Jamaican Sara Messer, secured the title after a fierce competition, claiming the first-place trophy. In the remaining positions, His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman Al Saud, President of the Saudi Arabian Maritime Sports and Diving Federation, presented the runner-up trophy to the “Brady” team, represented by Briton Sam Coleman and Finnish captain Emma Kämilainen. Third place went to the “Al-Ula” team, represented by Canadian Rusty Wyatt and Spaniard Nerea Martí, with the award presented by Sophie Horne, founder and CEO of SeaBird Technologies. Alejandro Agag, founder of the series, also presented the “OK” team with the Manufacturers’ Cup.
Jeddah, the capital of sustainable marine sports,
hosts this opening round, reaffirming the Kingdom's leadership in organizing sporting events that combine excitement with environmental sustainability. The E1 Championship is the world's first electric powerboat racing series, utilizing cutting-edge technologies designed to reduce carbon emissions and protect the marine environment, perfectly aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Green Saudi Arabia initiative. Choosing Jeddah as the season's starting point reinforces its strategic position on the global sports tourism map and highlights the beauty of the Red Sea as an ideal destination for water sports.
Strategic Dimensions and Global Partnerships:
The Saudi Arabian Maritime Sports and Diving Federation organized this event in collaboration with the International Powerboating Federation, under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Sport and in strategic partnership with the Public Investment Fund. These partnerships reflect the Kingdom's commitment to promoting sporting excellence and encouraging investment in the sports sector, as well as raising awareness of the importance of preserving the marine environment through clean technology.
now
concluded, the "OK Racing Team" leads the overall standings, followed by "Brady" and then "Al-Ula." The competition is scheduled to move to Europe, where the picturesque Italian island of Lake Como will host the second round from April 24th to 25th, completing the championship's eight-round global journey.
