Under the sun-drenched skies of Monte Carlo and the glittering gaze of global sports royalty, Sara Misir—Jamaica’s pioneering motorsport star—achieved a historic milestone on Sunday, July 20, claiming Team Blue Rising’s first-ever victory in the UIM E1 World Championship at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Misir, partnering with Belgian driver John Peeters, executed a flawless performance in the all-electric RaceBird vessel, seizing the win through razor-sharp handling, bold early overtakes, and a strategic “joker lap” that caught their rivals off guard. Their triumph not only ignited celebrations at the iconic harborfront but also confirmed Team Blue Rising’s emergence as a legitimate championship contender.
Podium performance powers championship ascent
The Monaco win comes on the heels of two strong performances earlier in the season: a third-place finish in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (January 25) and another P3 at Italy’s Lago Maggiore Grand Prix (June 28). Now sitting fourth overall with 114 championship points, Team Blue Rising has firmly cemented its place in the upper echelon of the E1 standings.
What makes this moment even more electrifying is the level of competition. Teams backed by international icons Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, and LeBron James were all part of the fiercely contested Monte Carlo field. Yet it was Misir and Peeters who rose above the noise, piloting their vessel with seamless coordination and composure.
“An absolute Hhonor”: Misir speaks from the podium
As champagne sprayed and flags waved across the harbor, a beaming Misir reflected on the magnitude of the moment:
“It’s an absolute honor to stand atop the podium representing Jamaica and Team Blue Rising,” she said. “This is a milestone not just for us as a team, but for women in motorsports across the world because this is my debut season and I just hope to keep improving as I go along.”
Sporting royalty celebrates breakthrough win
The awards ceremony was presided over by E1 Chairman Alejandro Agag and attended by a glittering roster of sporting legends. Among the notable faces in the crowd were LeBron James, Didier Drogba, and Tom Brady—a powerful endorsement of the E1 Series’ blend of elite competition, sustainability, and global star power.
For Sara Misir, already a four-time Jamaican Motorsports Athlete of the Year, the win marks another chapter in what has become a meteoric rise through the racing world. As the Caribbean’s first female professional race car driver, she is now shattering barriers on water as well as on land.
Racing toward the future: Lagos and Miami await
Team Blue Rising, co-owned by Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli, competes in the world’s first all-electric powerboat championship, where sustainability, innovation, and gender equity are cornerstones of competition.
With the E1 Series heading next to Lagos in October and Miami in November, the team’s trajectory suggests that more podium finishes—and perhaps a title challenge—could be on the horizon.
