Lewis Appiagyei, Award-winning and Guinness-record E1-Pilot Academy new pro generation: when Sport and High Technology passion join forces to launch a promising and Sustainable Professional Career.
BIOGRAPHY
Lewis Appiagyei has been passionate about motorsport since a very young age. He soon starts setting himself quite ambitious goals both from an educational and sport points of view. Maths, Physics, Science, Computing, Technology, Sport, English and German are some of the subjects of interest during school (GCSEs and A-Level at the St Mary Magdalene Academy in Islington). Since the age of seven, he has been practicing karting together with athletics and fencing, being fond of football, skiing and computer games (SIM racing). He distinguished himself in the sporting activities been awarded several acknowledgments while attracting the attention of relevant media for his talent. In between November 2021 and December 2022, he took part to the filming of the BBC Documentary devoted to his emerging car racing career, named “This is England – Born to Race”.
At the age of 10, Appiagyei achieved an unprecedented Guinness World Record for the fastest lap set on the Gran Turismo motor racing simulator. But the list of honours is quite extensive for this young 20-year-old champion. Just to mention some, he reached the podium at the 2012 Rookie of the Year, Buckmore Park, Junior Karting, the 2013 GUBA Young Talented Category, the 2014 Dubai Autodrome SODI World Series, the 2014/2015 Winter Champion Buckmore Park - Junior Karting, the 2015-17 London Youth Games, Fencing Individual & Team (Gold Medal), the 2016/2017 Winter Champion Ellough Park - Junior Karting, the 2017 iZone Silverstone, Ginetta SIM at Blyton Park Circuit (Lap Record), the 2020 Buckmore Park International Lap record, the 2021 E1 Series ‘Racebird’ Competition and the 2022 Praga Cup UK: Doninngton Park National - DOTD Trophy. In 2020, he was appointed in the Forbes Africa ’30 under 30’ Alumni prestigious list.
In 2023, he was included in the Great British Racing Drivers book, launching at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023. He then entered the E1 Series Pilot Academy attended from August to December 2023 where he got the UIM Skipper license. He is currently committee member of the Motorsport UK Esports Discipline and STEM on Track’ Espire Brand Ambassador, an innovative school race initiative addressed to new generations aimed at increasing their interest in engineering and racing.
MONACŒCOART® was pleased to interview Lewis Appiagyei at the occasion of his recent participation to the 2024 E1 Series Monaco to collect an exclusive insight of his inspiring story and expectations for his pioneering career, with a special sensitivity to the the environmental impact of sport.
TOPICS = INSPIRATION >> TRAINING >> EXPECTATIONS >> GREEN MESSAGE >> FUTURE PLANS
🎙INTERVIEW
MONACŒCOART®: After approaching Kart Circuits since your childhood and your recognitions, you succeeded in turning your passion into a professional training. Why did you decide to move towards the pioneering E1 Series? Who inspired you in this decision?
Lewis Appiagyei : Great question! I guess the inspiration that drove me to take part in the E1 Pilot Academy program can be summed up with one word: "Speed." My whole life has been dominated by my absolute passion for racing and being first, whether it was on sports day at school or at a local or foreign go-kart track. Winning a championship or setting track records.
I am wired that way! So, when the concept of E1 was first announced, it caught my attention straight away. I entered and won their first-ever E1 fastest lap competition, which took place virtually online, setting an unbeatable time on my first attempt and then improving it to secure the win.
I consider myself one of the early ‘adopters’ of the E1 series, from its inception as an online game to joining the Pilot Academy. I was invited to a meeting at the E1 headquarters soon after winning the competition. On that occasion, I was truly impressed with their forward-thinking approach to such a radical new concept. I decided I definitely had to be part of the project. I was enthusiast from that point onwards.
MONACŒCOART®: How do you feel being part of E1 Series Academy? What kind of training are you doing?
Lewis Appiagyei : Being part of the E1 Pilot Academy program, I felt special. When I received the email saying I had made it, I was totally over the moon, as we say in England, which means "very excited." The chance to race in destinations like Monaco and especially Hong Kong, where I grew up as a child, was too exciting for words.
That email made me feel really thrilled. Before I knew it, I was jetting out of London to Milan to start my training on Lago Maggiore, ironically the same lake where I spent my first summer vacation in Italy at a family friend’s lake house. It was all serendipitous!
MONACŒCOART®: How many times a day did you train? What are the main challenges to face?
Lewis Appiagyei : The training schedule started early in the morning after breakfast, with the theoretical part in the classroom, followed by the practical part where we put what we learned into practice on the lake. For me, this was the best part of the day. The most challenging part was the dunk test, which is the safety component of the program. We were driven to a special pool near Bergamo (North of Italy), where we were strapped in a capsule, submerged in a pool, and then capsized upside down. We had to release our safety belts, push open the canopy, and swim to the surface. Two scuba divers were on standby at all times, just in case. We were all totally focused at this point.
MONACŒCOART®: Each of the E1 Series nine teams is led by a true legend of sport and show business, which one would you like to compete with? Why?
Lewis Appiagyei: I wouldn’t mind racing for any of the legendary team owners in the E1 Series next year. It would be very cool to race for Will Smith’s team. But to be honest, just being on the grid at Monaco next year would be fantastic, regardless of the team.
MONACŒCOART®: E1 Series combines sport, high-tech and sustainability via a collateral targeted initiative (E1 Blue Impact Championship). All these values are particularly dear to the Z-Generation you belong to, what green message would you like to launch to your social media and live supporters? What green actions would you like to take besides your career as E1 Series pilot?
Lewis Appiagyei: I would like to push on my socials to my generation. I would highlight the fact that there are many cool emerging green technologies in racing. Flying electric cars are being tested and raced in Australia at the moment. The E1 pilots are in a unique position to amplify the importance of protecting our environment to the next generation, not just through their socials, but also by visiting schools and institutions and spreading the message that way. I have found that when visiting schools, kids are more ready to engage with the topic I present simply because racing is exciting and they have seen me on television and read about me online.
MONACŒCOART®: What difference does it make to drive a single-seater on the water compared to the business-as-usual terrestrial track (F1 or Formula E)? How does RaceBird fully electric technology affect your sports training and performance?
Lewis Appiagyei: Competing on tarmac and on the water comes with different challenges. As a racing driver, I am used to racing on a smooth surface, which allows for high-speed maneuvers and precise vehicle control. However, switching to the water requires a different skill set that I have had to learn quickly.
Unlike driving on the racetrack, the water is always changing, which means you have to adapt to varying conditions more than you would on four wheels. No lap is the same on the water due to several factors such as wind conditions and the wake from other competitors. Being able to handle the boat’s response to different waves and maintain stability at high speeds is the key to going faster. Something I am still adapting to. The one thing both disciplines share is that racers are always looking for the quickest way around each circuit, no matter what vehicle they are in control of. Consequently, transferring my fast drive to the water has not been a problem.
I believe the RaceBird, the E1 engineering cutting-edge technology, certainly helps pilots stay in control at all times while performing at the high level required to compete on every race.
MONACŒCOART®: How was your experience in Monaco as E1 Academy Series member? What do you expect from your near future in E1 Series?
Lewis Appiagyei: From what I observed, most pilots were able to handle the conditions in Monaco very well. The final was very exciting to watch. I do believe that the work which the teams are doing this year will be most beneficial for all future seasons which I am obviously still very much hoping to become part of. ***
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By Maurice Abbati
Journalist; Editor; Communication, Media and Public Relations Specialist
Lecturer and Author in English language of Technical Articles and the Manual: "Communicating the Environment to Save the Planet, a Journey into Eco-Communication" by Springer International Publishing.
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