The NBA superstar and Hollywood actor were in Luanda for the E1 World Championship’s first race in Angola, where both own competing teams.
Luanda, Angola (Running Africa) — NBA superstar LeBron James and Hollywood actor Will Smith brought global sporting and entertainment attention to Angola as Luanda hosted its first E1 World Championship race over the weekend.
The E1 Luanda Grand Prix, held on September 12 and 13, marked the all-electric powerboat championship’s debut in Southern Africa, bringing its distinctive RaceBird boats to the Angolan capital.
James and Smith are among the championship’s high-profile team owners, adding international star power to an event Angola hopes will help showcase the country as a growing tourism and entertainment destination.
LeBron James and Will Smith Team Race in Luanda
James owns Team AlUla, while Smith is a co-owner of Westbrook Racing by Visit Angola. Both teams competed in Luanda as part of the E1 World Championship’s 2026 season.
E1 features teams racing all-electric RaceBird boats, combining competitive powerboat racing with the championship’s focus on electric marine technology.
The Luanda race represented another milestone in the series’ international expansion and gave Angola its first opportunity to host an E1 championship event.
Angola Uses E1 Grand Prix to Promote Tourism
Beyond the racing, the event formed part of Angola’s broader efforts to use major international sports and entertainment events to strengthen its profile as a tourism destination.
E1 said the Luanda Grand Prix was expected to showcase the capital’s coastline while supporting Angola’s ambitions to attract more international visitors.
The involvement of Smith’s Westbrook Racing under the Visit Angola banner also provided the country with additional global exposure through the championship.
LeBron James and Will Smith Meet Angola President João Lourenço
During their visit, James and Smith also met Angolan President João Lourenço at the Presidential Palace in Luanda.
According to Angola’s national broadcaster, Lourenço presented the two stars with customized Angola national basketball team jerseys during the meeting.
For James, one of basketball’s most recognizable figures, the presentation provided a direct connection to a country with a strong basketball tradition in Africa.
Will Smith Deepens Links With Angola
The trip was not Smith’s first recent visit to Angola.
The actor previously travelled to the country in March, when he met Lourenço and discussed tourism as well as potential opportunities for film production in Angola.
With the E1 Luanda Grand Prix now added to its calendar of international events, Angola is increasingly positioning sport, entertainment, and celebrity partnerships as tools to showcase the country to audiences beyond Africa.
