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LUANDA, ANGOLA: Team Brady secured a landmark victory at the inaugural E1 Luanda GP, strengthening their position at the top of the 2026 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF with just the Miami double-header remaining.
After three podium finishes earlier in the season, the Championship leaders finally claimed their first race win of the campaign. Emma Kimiläinen delivered under pressure in the decisive Final 2, holding off a late charge from Team Monaco to cross the finish line just 1.4 seconds ahead of Oban Duncan.
The road to victory was far from straightforward.
Team Brady’s main Championship rivals, Westbrook Racing by Visit Angola, suffered a major setback during the Group Stages. A technical issue in their opening race forced Will Smith’s team to borrow a boat from Team AlUla, but the recovery effort ultimately fell just short.
In their final Group Stage race, Westbrook were beaten to qualification by Catie Munnings of Sierra Racing Club by less than half a second. The result left Westbrook in ninth place and allowed Team Brady to extend their Championship advantage.
The other leading contenders also struggled. Team AlUla could only manage seventh, while Team Drogba Global Africa, winners in Monaco at the previous round, finished eighth. Team Miami recorded their first last-place finish of the season.
The Finals produced further drama.
Final 1 saw Mashael Alobaidan make the strongest start, but her early advantage disappeared when she received a long lap penalty for changing lanes on the approach to the first turn. Sara Misir Vaz of Aoki Racing inherited the lead, before Team Brady’s RaceBird began closing rapidly.
The Championship leaders completed their long lap early, emerging into clear water and giving Sam Coleman the opportunity to take the Final 1 victory. The result also secured pole position for Emma Kimiläinen in the second Final.
The opening moments of Final 2 immediately changed the complexion of the race. Aoki Racing and Team Blue Rising came together, with Dani Clos and John Peeters both missing a course mark and subsequently receiving long lap penalties.
Kimiläinen then established control at the front for Team Brady, but Team Monaco remained within striking distance. As the race entered its closing stages, Oban Duncan began to apply increasing pressure.
The final corner proved decisive. Team Brady still had to complete their long lap, giving Duncan one last opportunity to challenge for victory. Kimiläinen held her nerve, completing the manoeuvre and crossing the line just 1.4 seconds ahead to secure Team Brady’s first win of the 2026 season.
Duncan’s impressive performance earned her the PIF Pilot of the Day award.
The result gives Team Brady a 40-point lead over Westbrook Racing by Visit Angola heading into the season finale, with the Championship set to be decided during the Miami double-header.
Team Brady will now look to complete a remarkable three-peat and become UIM E1 World Champions for the third consecutive year.
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