Team Brady claim historic victory at inaugural E1 Luanda GP to extend Championship lead

Tom Brady’s team won the first-ever E1 Luanda GP, extending their advantage at the top of the 2026 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF.

There was drama in the Group Stages, as second-placed Westbrook Racing by Visit Angola failed to make it through to the Finals. Will Smith’s team had a technical problem in their first race and despite borrowing a boat from Team AlUla, they just missed out on qualifying for the finals. 

In the last few metres of their Group Stage race they were pipped by Catie Munnings for Sierra Racing Club by just under half a second. That meant they ended up in ninth position and lost touch on the Championship lead.

Third in the Championship AlUla could only manage seventh, with Team Drogba Global Africa - first-time winners at the last round in Monaco - in eighth. Team Miami brought up the rear for the first time this season.

In Final 1, Mashael Alobaidan took the lead off the start but was handed a long lap penalty for changing her lane on the run to the first turn. That promoted Sara Misir Vaz for Aoki Racing into the lead but the Brady boat was flying. 

The Championship leaders took their long lap early which gave them clean water, allowing Sam Coleman to come through to take the victory and give Brady pilot Emma Kimiläinen pole position for Final 2.

At the start of Final 2 Aoki and Team Blue Rising tripped over each other, meaning both Dani Clos and John Peeters missed one of the course marks and received long lap penalties which knocked them out of contention. 

It seemed as though Kimiläinen was controlling the race for Brady but in the closing stages it became clear that Team Monaco were closing in. 

Heading into the final corner Team Brady had to still complete their long lap, allowing Oban Duncan in the Team Monaco E1 RaceBird to put the pressure on at the line. The Finn held on to take victory by just 1.4 seconds and, despite finishing on the podium in every race so far this season, it was the first time that Brady took victory this season. Oban Duncan’s performance saw her awarded PIF Pilot of the Day.

Team Brady leave Angola with a 40 point advantage over Westbrook heading into the season finale double-header set for Miami as they look to win the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF for the third year in a row.