High expectations fueled the atmosphere at the Opening Round of the 2025 UIM E1 World Championship Round in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and the racing action in the Obhur Bay produced plenty of remarkable performances and some quite surprising results.
Among the most closely watched teams was Team Brady, the title holder of Season One, led by Sam Coleman and Emma Kimiläinen. The team faced challenges in the Final Race, finishing on fifth position—an outcome that contrasted sharply with last season’s dominance.
All eyes were on Team ALULA, the most recent addition to the E1 fleet, championed by basketball icon LeBron James. The team secured two points in qualification and finished seventh in the final standings.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Opening Round’s winner was Team Aoki, owned by global music DJ Steve Aoki. After finishing near the bottom in Season One, the team stunned spectators with a dominant performance. Saudi Arabia’s Mashael Alobaidan, the Kingdom’s first female rally driver, thrilled the home crowd with a standout performance, delivering her best career result for Team Aoki.
Reflecting on his team’s extraordinary achievement, Steve Aoki, present on-site, said:
"Last year, we finished last—or close to last. This proves that underdogs have a chance when fueled by determination, passion, and love for the sport. We retooled everything, poured our hearts into it, and to see this happen right here, right now, is just incredible."
Team Rafa delivered a strong and consistent performance to claim second place, while Team Blue Rising, despite previous struggles, exceeded expectations to secure third place on the podium.
With this thrilling start to the season, the E1 Series promises even more excitement as the teams passionately continue their pursuit of victory.
The stage is set for another exciting UIM E1 World Championship!
photo by SpaceSuit