Powerboat P1 - British Grand Prix of the Sea, Outerlimits and Extremeboat double win

Outerlimits make a double and secure important points in the fast Evolution Class

Extreme boat also make a double and take lead in production Supersport class

In a weekend of flat calm seas the British Grand Prix of the Sea, held in the legendary set up of Cowes, considered as the classics of the races for offshore powerboat racing again ended in a double for both classes. The repeat of the double seems to be a standard result for the 2007 season in the P1 circuit, what always seems to differ is the boat which gains and taking the much important 1st place.

Race 1

Outerlimits took the chequered flag in today's first leg of the P1 British Grand Prix Evolution Class, the historic Round the Island race, followed just a half boat-length away by its arch rivals King of Shaves, with Italian's OSG in third. With calm waters making for high speed racing around the Island, these high-speed racing craft were able to drive flat-out which put many above the average top-speed limit, implemented for safety reasons. As a result, the racing spectacle became somewhat confusing as the lead boats slowed before the chequered flag to avoid time penalties. The unusual ending just added to the drama of a race that had been intensely competitive throughout. The early series of circuit laps, before the boats embarked upon the circumnavigation of the island, had seen King of Shaves take the lead. Wettpunkt.com were forced out early with a blown turbine leaving Outerlimits, OSG and Fainplast to contest the lead, and they did in thrilling fashion. At St Katherine's, the halfway point, three boats, the British King of Shaves, American Outerlimits and Italian OSG passed almost in a dead heat - a stunning sight by the World's fastest mono-hulls and further proof of the competitiveness of the Evolution class. Italians Fainplast were first to take the chequered flag but a time penalty, imposed for exceeding the top average speed limit demoted them to fourth.

In Supersport it looked that the Sunseeker Challenger took its first win when the FPT-powered craft crossed the line in the first leg of the P1 British Grand Prix but the win was denied by a subsequent time penalty. The winner, timing its race to perfection, was ExtemeBoat piloted by Jackie Hunt and Mike Shelton with a photo finish for second, third and fourth places. As was the case in Evolution class the unusual calm waters had made for high speed racing around the Island, with the boats able to drive flat out, putting many above the average top-speed limit, implemented for safety reasons. As a result, the racing spectacle became somewhat confusing as the lead boats slowed before the chequered flag to avoid time penalties. The race for the coveted production class win was typically intense and competitive with Southampton based VoomVoom.com, the Yanmar-powered Hustler the first to show. The impressive performance would eventually lead to a photo finish for second place with SunLik Beer and Buzzi Bullet, SunLik being awarded second, with Voom Voom third and Buzzi Bullet fourth. Roscioli Hotels Roma was disqualified for missing a marker.

Race 2

Outerlimits, secured its maiden Grand Prix victory in the British Grand Prix of the Sea, winning today's second leg to complete a weekend double. Under intense pressure from King of Shaves they twice re-took the lead from their arch rivals with the gap rarely more than five seconds throughout the 54 nautical mile race. Tight circuit racing may not favour all the P1 muscle machines, and in particular those with diesel engines, but it certainly suited the two American craft whose neck and neck racing was captivating for the huge audience packed along the Cowes Esplanade and on the hundreds of craft lining The Solent. Behind these two, another titanic battle was being fought out for third place between Wettpunkt.com and OSG, with OSG finally winning it at the last buoy to take third on the day and in the two-legged Grand Prix. Behind them, both the German Searex and Italian Kiton team secured valuable championship points and Kiton rounded off a strong weekends racing with fourth place overall. Fainplast decided not to race today, in protest against recent decisions that they feel have unfairly undermined their cause.

Extremeboat, secured an emphatic victory and won the British Grand Prix for the second consecutive time and with it the British SuperSport championship. Now they move on to the season's penultimate Grand Prix as championship leaders. In a fiercely fought production class encounter, Sun Lik Beer moved through the field, overtaking VoomVoom.com on lap 4 to take second place and put pressure on Extremeboat. Behind them the previous Championship leaders, Roscioli Hotels Roma, were building up trying to make up for a disappointing result in Friday's first leg and eager to secure valuable championship points. Buzzi Bullet also performed well throughout the weekend, just missing out on third place over the two legs from VoomVoom.com, who had undertaken major development work in the build up to this event, including two new engines. The hard work has started to pay as they followed up an impressive performance on Friday to claim a Grand Prix podium place.

Now the Powerboats P1 circus escalates to its penultimate stage as the championship moves to Zeebrugge, Belgium, over the weekend of the 8/9 September.

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