Construction Racing for P1 SuperStock debut in Southampton
by Powerboat P1 on 27 Aug 2010
Construction Racing will finally make its P1 SuperStock debut in Southampton on September 12 when Marcus Bradshaw and Paul Wilkins launch their 2010 UK powerboat racing campaign.
Engine problems have plagued the efforts of the Shropshire-based team so far this season but an old friend and racing foe has come to their rescue and loaned the duo a spare 150 hp engine for the Grand Prix on the south coast.
The recent turnaround in fortunes has sparked an upbeat response from Bridgnorth's adrenaline-junkie, Bradshaw, as he aims to spoil the party for his race rivals who are hoping to secure a piece of gold at the UK's premier marine motorsport's season-ending race in Lymington.
'If the engine runs true, we will most certainly be competitive and in with a shout of getting on the podium,' said Bradshaw.
With Eclipse and Team Fox currently chasing Premier Cru at the top of the table, Bradshaw believes the existing frontrunners will be wary of the 2006 runner-up's presence on the start line. He said: 'Rose and Sara are deservedly second in this year's series but they have never matched our straight-line speed and I don't intend for that record to change in Southampton.'
Bradshaw hasn't lost any of the competitive instincts he has matured from spending bitterly cold days on the rugby field, hitting tackle-bags and getting up to other forms of tomfoolery at the bottom of the ruck.
He concedes his body might not be up to hitting a running line at full speed these days but since an introduction to powerboating after a trip to the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes classic race in his early twenties, Bradshaw has developed a passion for a different kind of punishment, notably inside the cockpit of cruiser class powerboats, V24 Pro V and more recently the Honda Formula 4-Stroke series.
Marcus is now excited at re-entering the racing arena and being back amongst his 'extended family' in Southampton after missing out completely in the opening two rounds of the season.
'We paid our full entry fee for this season and fully intended to race in Cornwall. We had serious engine trouble at the start of the year, which meant we missed Penzance and we were faced with an extortionate repairs bill and a diminishing amount of time to sort out another option for the next race in Galway. It was a real shame to miss out in Ireland as my wife Siobhan is Irish and we had always hoped one day to be able to race in Ireland!
'I was part of the Team Shark crew in Pwllheli but the team can't wait to race in Southampton where we are entertaining lots of sponsors and guests also.
Construction Racing's ethos has been assembled from 30 years experience in the building industry with Bradshaw, Wilkins and co-pilot, Paul Heslop, as well as the team's majority of key stakeholders all registering an interest in the construction business.
'In past years we have regularly entertained upwards of 30 guests at each event, and on a couple of occasions over 100 attending the hospitality. We thankfully have a strong support network and sponsors already looking to commit for next year.'
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