RYA Powerboat GP Championship preview – Bigger and better than ever

by Emma Slater on 29 Apr 2015 This bank holiday weekend (02-03 May) the RYA Powerboat GP British Championship heads to Carr Mill Dam in St Helens for the Lancashire Grand Prix. Now in its fourth year, the 2015 RYA Powerboat GP British Championship is set to kick off in style as the opening round is hosted at the Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club.

2015 sees the RYA Powerboat GP Championship back, bigger and better than ever, with a six-round British Championship series in addition to the annual RYA Sprint Championships that will be held in Bedford on the 01 - 02 August. The Championship will once again see Tiff Needell back with the Powerboat GP series that will again be broadcast on Sky Sports.

Powerboat GP promoter, Jason Brewer had this to say on the continuing success of the series and the season ahead: “This year our focus remains on the sustainable and environmentally friendly ‘green classes’ and the continuing growth of the F4 catamaran class. Powerboat GP is now entering its fourth year and we are hugely excited by the growing popularity.

“We also have some new teams and new faces joining us for 2015 and a number of our junior competitors our now progressing to the more senior racing categories so we continue to go from strength to strength. 2015 is already gearing up to be one of our best seasons yet.”

The Lancashire Grand Prix is a firm favourite amongst the competitors and some 50 racers will take to the water this weekend competing in five different classes in search for the first honours of the year and the all important first step towards the British title.

Over the weekend seven classes, ranging from the junior categories with racers as young as nine years old, up to the thrilling 120 plus mph, F2 class catamarans, will be competing for the Lancashire Grand Prix titles.

There is an abundance of home-grown talent that will be competing this weekend and looking to make a strong start on club waters. Amongst those competing is reining Powerboat GP F2 British Champion Paul Balfour (Wigan) who will once more be looking for an early lead but knows he has his work cut out for him.

“There was virtually nothing separating the top six cats last year with 100ths of seconds often making the difference in grid positions and this year it will probably be even closer. I’ve brought my boat in line with current safety standards which will certainly have added a bit of weight, and will also change of balance of the boat and reduce the aerodynamic effect so it will be interesting to see what happens in the first race” explains Balfour

“Carr Mill is considered by the drivers to be a good course, it's not the fastest for top end speed as it is short and has difficult technical lines in and out of the corners but it provides interesting conditions to race and of course we are all always weary of the infamous right-hand turn as none of the other courses have this to contend with.”

In the GT15 Class local talent from Bolton, Jack Pickles will be representing his home club as he races for TopCat Racing fresh from winning the season’s first club race Jack will be hoping to capitalise on the familiar waters and claim the top spot on the podium.

Meanwhile a fierce battle is sure to ‘power up the dam’ as Natalie Craddock (19, Wigan) the only female racer to competing in the F4s championship is looking to put early pressure on local adversary and reigning champion Ben Morse (21, Wigan) and stop his dominating class.

Racing at Carr Mill Dam commences on Saturday 02 May with timed practice session taking place from 10:00 for each class, where the drivers will be fighting for that all-important pole position. In the afternoon, racing is set to start around 12:30 and each class will complete at least one race. A full day of the action takes place the following day from 10:00.

The event is free for spectators, so everybody is welcome to come along and watch the action. You can see the racing from anywhere around the banks of the Dam or you can join the racers, their skilled mechanics, pit crew and teams in ‘The Boathouse’ grounds and where you can listen to the live commentary.

Powerboat GP 2015 Calendar

· 02 - 03 May – Lancashire GP

· 24 - 25 May – Lowestoft GP

· 11 - 12 July – Kingsbury GP

· 18 - 19 July – Cannock GP

· 01 - 02 August – Bedford Sprint Championship

· 29 - 30 August – Nottingham GP World F4, OSY400 and GT30 Championships

· 29 - 30 August – Nottingham GP - F2 Round

· 12 -13 September – Bedford GP (Finals)

For more information on Powerboat GP, please visit website or contact info@powerboatgp.co.uk

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