E1, the all-electric powerboat championship, has unveiled National Basketball Association (NBA) icon LeBron James as its latest high-profile team owner.
Confirmed:
- Team AlUla will join from the season-opening Jeddah GP
- The team will be piloted by Rusty Wyatt and Catie Munnings
Context:
James joins a roster of fellow sports legends at E1 that includes former National Football League (NFL) quarterback Tom Brady and tennis’ Rafael Nadal. Other investors include Will Smith, Steve Aoki, Didier Drogba, Marcelo Claure, Virat Kohli, and Marc Anthony.
The new E1 team adds to James’ expansive investment portfolio across sport and entertainment, which includes stakes in Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Beats by Dre, PGA Tour Enterprises and English soccer giants Liverpool.
Comment:
“As a lifelong fan of sports and competition, the opportunity to own an E1 team that represents such a high level of innovation in sports is incredibly exciting,” said James. “E1 is a new type of global competition that’s revolutionising water racing and I’m proud to be at the forefront of its expansion in season two.”
Coming next:
The 2025 E1 season gets underway this weekend in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 24th to 25th January.
Go deeper:
- A celebrity’s playground: How is Saudi-backed E1 Series changing the world of water mobility?
- How E1 Series is relying on its celebrity appeal to make a global impact
Looking to unlock more exclusive insights and strategic connections in the motorsport industry?
The BlackBook Motorsport Forum is the destination that connects and inspires top decision-makers and leaders across global motorsport. Join us in London on 27th March 2025 to dissect the critical balance between on and off-track performance, exploring areas such as technical innovation, sustainability and commercial success. Discover more here.