Rafael Nadal joins E1 electric boating league as team owner

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal will become a new team owner in the UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first all-electric raceboat championship.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion will enter his own team for the inaugural season, which is set to get underway later this year.

Alongside his incredible success on the tennis court, Nadal – a Mallorquin islander – says he is passionate about the ocean and is hugely supportive of E1’s mission to accelerate clean mobility and restore marine ecosystems.

with a livery inspired by the colour scheme of Nadal’s tennis racket

Nadal’s E1 RaceBird design for Team Spain

“I’m really excited to be getting involved with a project like E1 that values sustainability and will make a positive impact on society as a whole, especially in coastal communities,” says Nadal. “I also like the fact that E1 has a clear mission and is committed to preserving marine ecosystems.”

Nadal, who owns a custom 80 Sunreef Power yacht, will also be supporting E1’s Blue Action Programme, which has been designed to create a positive impact on local communities through projects aimed at restoring marine ecosystems along city waterfronts.

The Blue Action Programme will be led by Professor Carlos Duarte, a fellow Mallorquin islander to Nadal and chief scientist at E1. Duarte is a world-leading marine ecologist, who will play an instrumental role in developing E1’s overall sustainability strategy, as well as supporting the Rafa Nadal Academy’s sustainability initiatives and reinforcing its commitment with sustainable sport.

Nadal’s new racing outfit will compete against other teams who have already signed up to participate in the championship, including the Venice Racing Team. Nadal joins a growing list of sports personalities to own an E1 team, including current Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez’s team affiliated with his native Mexico.

Rafael Nadal and E1 Co-Founder & Chairman Alejandro Agag stood together on the tennis court, holding the steering wheel used in the electric raceboat.

Rafael Nadal with Alejandro Agag, co-founder and chairman of E1

The partnership with Nadal and E1 is expected to extend beyond racing to include the launch of an international thought leadership event, focused on the theme of sport and sustainability.

“It’s incredible news to have a name like Rafael Nadal join the UIM E1 World Championship,” says Alejandro Agag, co-founder and chairman of E1. “He’s not only one of the greatest tennis players of all time, he’s also a sporting icon who has transcended his sport. Speaking with Nadal, I immediately understood how important sustainability is to him and his passion for the ocean. E1’s mission is to accelerate clean mobility and restore marine ecosystems, which I know Nadal and his team feel strongly about.”

The eagerly anticipated first season of the UIM E1 World Championship is scheduled to get underway later this year. In the coming months, championship organisers say they will continue to accelerate preparations for the inaugural season, with more teams and race venues to be announced in due course.