Team Monaco has taken its first-ever podium in the UIM E1 World Championship, finishing second at the Luanda Grand Prix in Angola on Sunday 13th September — and it did so the hard way, recovering from boat damage and a 30-minute trackside repair to force its way into the top three. The result, in only the Principality’s fifth race of a debut season the team had framed as one for learning, arrived well ahead of the podium it had targeted for 2027.
The Monaco entry, racing under the Principality’s number 98, scored 30 championship points and climbed from ninth to sixth in the standings — its strongest weekend yet in a grid stacked with celebrity-owned teams.
A podium built on a 30-minute repair
Team Monaco reached Sunday’s finals from fourth on the grid after Saturday qualifying, but the day began badly. In the opening race of Group A, poor visibility forced Maxime Nocher to change line and make contact with a rival RaceBird, damaging the left foil of the all-electric hydrofoil boat. With roughly an hour before their next outing, the crew rebuilt it in just 30 minutes to make Race 3.
From there the recovery gathered pace. Oban Duncan brought the RaceBird home second in Race 3 to put Monaco back in contention, before Nocher fought back from a poor start to third in the first final, securing the team’s place in the deciding race. Duncan then took the wheel for the finals and took the fight to the leaders, finishing second by just 1.4 seconds after pushing them all the way to the line, while setting the fastest lap at 1:12.218 and earning the PIF Pilot of the Day award.
‘It worked out in the end’
“I had absolutely no idea where we were when I crossed the line. When I found out we had finished second, it was such a great achievement. The whole team should be so proud,” said Duncan. “I feel amazing. I trusted Max and it worked out in the end. I’m so pleased for the whole team.”
“Oban was perfect. We were catching up quickly, and I said we could finish first. We were only one second behind. I trusted Oban and the strategy, and it worked out in the end. We pushed for it and we got second place. It was great,” said Nocher, the team’s co-owner and an 11-time kitefoil world champion.
For Nocher, the result marked a turning point for the young team. “We’re so happy for everyone who has trusted us. It has taken us a few races to get used to the boat and get used to the team, and now we’re on the podium. We are really pleased to be here. And we are looking forward to Miami races!”
Miami to close the season
The race was won by Tom Brady’s team, their first victory of the season despite reaching the podium in every round, and the reigning champions left Angola with a 40-point championship lead over Will Smith’s Westbrook Racing. The title will be settled at the season finale, a double-header in Miami on 13th and 14th November, where Brady chase a third crown in a row and Monaco look to build on Luanda.
“We have to keep pushing. Miami is going to be two races, so we have to keep improving and pushing. Hopefully, we can make the podium again at the end of the year. We’re going to do our best,” said Duncan.
See also:
Interview: E1 Pilot Oban Duncan on flying Team Monaco’s colours into its home race
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Main photo source: E1 Team Monaco / Credit: Opposite Land Productions