Hollywood actor and team owner Will Smith announced on Thursday, March 26, 2026, that Luanda, Angola, will host a major round of the E1 Series electric powerboat championship. The event is scheduled for September 12-13, marking the championship’s debut in Southern Africa. This announcement was made during Smith’s visit to the Angolan capital, a strategic coastal city on the Atlantic.
The E1 Series, a competitive championship for electric race boats, is attracting high-profile investors from the sports and entertainment worlds. Other team owners include basketball legend LeBron James, football superstar Tom Brady, and tennis champion Rafael Nadal. This collective involvement signals a significant push to popularize sustainable marine motorsport on a global scale.
Series founder Alejandro Agag expressed enthusiasm for the new African venue in an official statement. He highlighted the importance of growing international audiences for the unique water racing format. The Luanda event will be one of eight races in the inaugural championship season, with another African race planned for Lagos, Nigeria, in October.
The choice of Luanda underscores a strategic expansion into new markets for electric sports. Angola’s capital offers a dynamic Atlantic coastline ideal for high-speed aquatic events. This move aims to captivate audiences across Africa and diversify the sport’s geographical appeal beyond traditional hubs in Europe and North America.
Will Smith’s role extends beyond ownership to active promotion, leveraging his global fame. His presence at the announcement in Angola helped generate significant media attention for the upcoming race. The E1 Series represents a fusion of cutting-edge clean technology and elite competitive racing, aiming to set a new standard for environmentally conscious sports entertainment worldwide.
