This weekend, the Puerto Banus marina in Marbella will host the spectacular Puerto Banús E1 Grand Prix, also known as the electric Formula 1 of the sea. The race also attracts many celebrities to the southern Spanish coastal town.
With teams led by famous names such as Rafael Nadal and Marc Anthony, there is not only racing, but also a focus on equality and sustainability.
RaceBird: the star of the event
A copy of the RaceBird has been on display in Puerto Banus since Wednesday. This outboard motor boat is fully electric, made of carbon fiber, weighs 800 kilograms and can reach speeds of almost 100 kilometres per hour. These revolutionary boats will not only race in Marbella, but later this year in other prestigious locations such as Monaco, Hong Kong, Geneva and Venice.
Celebrities
The teams participating in the Marbellese race each consist of a man and a woman who have to spend equal time on the water. The team leaders include prominent figures from the sports and entertainment world such as Rafael Nadal, Formula 1 driver Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez, former footballer Didier Drogba, actor Will Smith, music producer Steve Aoki, former American football player Tom Brady and singer Marc Anthony. Anthony will give a concert in San Pedro Alcántara this evening as a warm-up for the speed weekend.
Combining equality and environmental awareness
“What makes marine Formula 1 so special as a sport is that the boats are specially designed for this competition. We race without harming the ecosystem and promote equality,” said Cris Lazarraga, member of Nadal’s team and world jet ski champion. She is an advocate for the integration of women in motorsports.
Álvaro Buenaventura, CEO of the “Checo” Pérez team, emphasises the “privilege of being able to race in a place like Puerto Banus” and points out the importance of electromobility for the protection of the seas and the inclusion of women in the sport. “Having women race under the same conditions as men is very important,” he adds.
Wide reach
José María Arrabal, Secretary General for Sports of the Junta de Andalucía, also praised the competition. “It is a promising competition for the future because of the values it promotes, equality and sustainability,” he says. The local competition, supported by the Junta, the Provincial Deputation of Málaga and the Municipality of Marbella, will reach an audience of more than 1 billion people through social media alone.