The team owned by renowned DJ Steve Aoki won an action packed final.
Saudi Arabia’s Mashael AlObaidan celebrated an emotional victory in the Jeddah E1 Series GP after her teammate Dani Clos powered to victory for the Aoki Racing Team.
The team owned by renowned DJ Steve Aoki won an action packed final as Spaniard Clos came home ahead of Rafael Nadal’s Team Rafa and Blue Rising, which is owned by Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli.
It was an emotional victory for Saudi woman AlObaidan in the opening race of Season 2 of the E1 Series as she tasted victory in her own country.
Aoki, who was in attendance at the event, hailed his team’s performance, saying: “Last year, I think we placed last or close to last. So, it just goes to show the underdog has a chance when you have determination, passion, and love for the sport.
“We came together and we retooled everything we possibly could, – look at the skin of our race parts, the dragon, everything we put our heart and determination in, and just to see this all happening right here, right now, winning this one, it’s just a dream come true.”
He added on winning pilot Clos: “I love Dani. Dani is such a great addition to the team and it makes me think what’s going to happen for season two is remarkably going to be different from season one.”
The electric powerboat racing series sees teams of celebrity owners including Tom Brady, Didier Drogba, Will Smith and LeBron James compete against each other, with the first race of the year taking place in Jeddah on Saturday.
Referred to as the “electric Formula One of the water”, E1 is the world’s first and only all-electric race boat championship – sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the world governing body of powerboating.
The event on the Red Sea was organised by the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation, under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport and in collaboration with the International Powerboating Federation.
Next up for the E1 Series is Doha on February 22 before further races to follow in Monaco, Lake Como and Miami later in the year.
