FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 3rd, 2025 – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, KSA – Westbrook Racing, the E1 electric powerboat team owned by global icon Will Smith, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the G20 Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP). This collaboration aims to accelerate awareness and education about coral conservation worldwide, spotlighting the urgent challenges facing coral reefs and championing sustainable solutions.
The years 2023 and 2024 have witnessed unprecedented coral bleaching events, devastating reefs due to record-breaking sea temperatures. Between February 2023 and October 2024, 77% of the world’s coral reefs were exposed to severe bleaching heat stress. With 2024 declared the warmest year on record—1.55°C above pre-industrial levels—the need for immediate action has never been greater.
Recognizing the vital role of coral reefs in marine ecosystems and human livelihoods, Westbrook Racing has joined forces with CORDAP to inspire global action and mobilize meaningful conservation efforts. A formal agreement was signed by Professor Carlos Duarte, Executive Director of G20 CORDAP, and Ana Agostinho, Sustainability Lead for Westbrook Racing, at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, on January 23, 2025. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to restoring and reviving the world’s coral reefs, with CORDAP serving as Westbrook Racing’s Local Impact Partner.
Westbrook Racing and CORDAP will engage audiences through local activations at E1 race venues, collaborative digital media campaigns, interactive educational tools, and documentaries to foster a deeper understanding of coral reef ecosystems and the urgent need for conservation. By integrating these initiatives into the race experience, fans and stakeholders will gain firsthand insight into the challenges corals face and the solutions available, inspiring collective action for ocean health. Additionally, Westbrook Racing will support CORDAP in reaching broader audiences and showcasing its initiatives. Through its presence in the UIM E1 World Championship, Westbrook Racing will amplify CORDAP’s message, creating meaningful connections with fans, partners, and communities around the world to elevate the importance of coral conservation.
“We are at a pivotal moment for ocean conservation, and coral reefs are at the heart of this crisis,” said Ana Agostinho, Sustainability Lead for Westbrook Racing. “Through our partnership with CORDAP, we want to use the power of sport to drive awareness and action, ensuring that these vital ecosystems are protected for future generations.”
Phil Allen, Team Principal at Westbrook Racing, added, “Sustainability is an important pillar for Westbrook Racing. Partnering with CORDAP aligns perfectly with our mission to not only compete at the highest level but also to make a tangible impact in ocean conservation. By using our platform, we hope to drive meaningful change and inspire others to take action.”
Professor Carlos Duarte, Executive Director of CORDAP, shared his enthusiasm with the partnership : “Coral reefs are at a tipping point, with rising sea temperatures and back-to-back bleaching events threatening their survival. But together, through collaboration and collective effort, we can turn the tide. This partnership with Westbrook Racing is a powerful example that we all have a role to play in saving our oceans. Whether we are scientists on the field or athletes racing on the water. Every one of us can be an agent of change.”
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NOTES TO THE EDITORS
About Westbrook Racing
Westbrook Racing competes in the E1 Series, a pioneering racing platform for sustainable electric watercraft aimed at reducing environmental pressures on oceans, rivers, and lakes. Led by Hollywood icon Will Smith, Westbrook Racing Team is a powerhouse of performance and entertainment, dedicated to winning both races and fans around the world. Westbrook Racing’s commitment to sustainability and innovation drives the team’s mission to revolutionize the sport and engage fans around the world. Launched in 2024, the E1 Series was founded in 2020 by motorsport veteran Alejandro Agag (Formula E) and is managed by former McLaren Applied’s Rodi Basso. The series has rapidly gained global attention, bolstered by celebrity investors such as Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal and Didier Drogba. Westbrook Racing benefits from the leadership of co-owners Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio and Alshair Fiyaz. Del Vecchio, through LMDV Capital, and Fiyaz, with his background in sports and sustainable investments, bring additional strength to the team. Westbrook Racing combines performance, entertainment and sustainability, setting new standards in racing and sports marketing https://westbrook-racing.com
About CORDAP
The G20 Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform Foundation (CORDAP) was established by G20 countries and is the only international organization fully dedicated to funding global research and development for tropical and cold-water coral restoration and conservation. CORDAP Foundation is the financial arm of the G20 CORDAP. It is committed to secure funding streams, including donations, grants, and financial support from both public and private sectors. Learn more: cordap.org – Media Contact (CORDAP): Carla Lourenco, Communications Specialist, carla.lourenco@kaust.edu.sa
About the UIM E1 World Championship
E1 is the world’s first and only all-electric raceboat championship sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the international governing body for powerboating activities. The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF was established to create a new, exciting and competitive on-water racing Championship using electric technologies to focus efforts on innovations that help protect and restore our urban waters and coastal areas. The Championship sees teams featuring both a male and female pilot. Racing on the water in iconic cities around the world including Jeddah, Doha, Monaco, Lake Como and Miami, teams are owned by some of the biggest names on the planet. These already include Will Smith, Marc Anthony and Steve Aoki from the world of entertainment, Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady, Virat Kohli and Didier Drogba from the world of sport and Marcelo Claure from the world of business. E1 pilots navigate tight and technical circuits behind the wheel of the electric RaceBirds. https://www.e1series.com/
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