Drogba and girlfriend LeMaire enter F1 of the sea

the E1 Series buys a new team. This is the stable of Didier Drogba, who together with his partner Gabrielle LeMaire will lead a team that will compete on water against Spain’s already announced electric teams from Rafa Nadal and from Mexico by Sergio Perez.

The Ivory Coast striker, who won four Premier Leagues, four FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea between 2004 and 2015, and who also played for Marseille, Galatasaray, Shanghai Shenhua and Montreal Impact will give the name goes to Team Drogba which will bear the colors of the Ivory Coast flag for the inaugural season of the world’s first all-electric racing boat championship, which will kick off later this year.

It is no surprise, because beyond the great appeal of the E1 Series and its boats, born from the RaceBird prototype developed by the Italian designer Brunello Acampora and which can reach incredible speeds, even 50 knots, Drogba has long been involved in promoting of sustainability and environmental awareness, together with his partner Gabrielle.

“Sport and sustainability together is a winning combination. Gabrielle and I are both very competitive, so we will build a strong team – says the former footballer -. We draw inspiration from legends like Senna and Schumacher, but especially Lewis Hamilton, winning F1 championships, breaking down barriers and acting as leaders for a new generation of drivers.”

“Pollution has caused the destruction and loss of coastal habitats around the world – he continues -. The degradation of our underwater ecosystems poses a variety of threats to marine life and the livelihoods of coastal communities. So we want to make a positive impact through the accelerated development of clean technologies and inspiring change. But we will also have fun for a great cause. What do I tell Rafa and Checo? Get ready, we come to win!”.

“Through the Didier Drogba Foundation, we work tirelessly to empower women, something that is so important to both of us and that will be at the heart of our E1 team and our drivers and riders,” adds LeMaire.

The mission

Drogba’s leadership in protecting the environment and promoting sustainability aligns with the ambition of the E1 Series Blue Impact program to restore marine ecosystems on a large scale in the waterfronts of the cities in which it competes. The E1 Blue Impact program will be led by Carlos Duarte, E1 chief scientist and one of the world’s top marine biologists.

“Didier Drogba and Gabrielle LeMaire are a powerful team and together they embody everything the E1 championship stands for – explains the Spaniard Alejandro Agag, co-founder and president of E1 -. Strong competitors and change-makers in sports and business, they are equally passionate about the world’s oceans and building a more sustainable planet.”

“Didier and Gabrielle are a dynamic duo who demonstrate how important it is to have equal representation and opportunities for men and women in motorsport, from the meeting room to the cockpit – says the Italian Rodi Basso, co-founder and CEO of E1 – And their commitment to ocean health and technological change will help to further spread the message of E1.