Team Rafa has achieved its first victory at the Visit Qatar E1 Doha GP, part of the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF. Despite having accumulated multiple podium finishes since the start of the championship, the team had not secured a win until now.
The team’s drivers, Spanish racer Cris Lazarraga and Frenchman Tom Chiappe, displayed exceptional mastery of the RaceBird, delivering outstanding performances in a day full of thrilling competitions.
This victory puts them in the lead after dominating the start of the second season, surpassing Aoki Racing Team, led by Steve Aoki, who won in Jeddah last month, and Team Drogba, who secured second and third place, respectively.
Race Details
The presence of Hollywood icon Will Smith, owner of Westbrook Racing, added a touch of celebrity to the event as he watched his drivers secure fourth place. Meanwhile, the reigning champions, Team Brady, backed by NFL legend Tom Brady, faced challenges in the finals.
Although Finnish driver Emma Kimiläinen recorded the fastest time in Final 1, her teammate Sam Coleman was unable to replicate that performance in Final 2 due to a time penalty after hitting a race marker, resulting in a fifth-place finish.
Thus, the 2025 UIM E1 World Championship has kicked off with full intensity, proving to be highly competitive, with all nine teams striving to master the art of piloting the RaceBird, the championship’s fully electric racing vessel.
