This weekend (16/17 July) the Powerboat GP Championship heads to Chasewater Country Park for the penultimate championship round as competitors battle it out at the Chasewater Grand Prix. All six classes will be back in action with as the competitors chase the chequered flag for the all-important championship points. With 61 points up for grabs for each of the championship classes at Chasewater it’s a vital weekend in each Powerboat GP RYA British Championship campaign. Every competitor will be hungry for victory and looking to close the deal.
Current British GT15 Champion Thomas Mantripp will be looking for another Grand Prix win to extend his lead over fierce adversaries Jonathan Brewer and Harvey Smith as he looks to retain his title. Whilst Jonathan and Harvey will be looking for Pole position advantage in the hopes of keeping Thomas at bay.
With spirits still high from a home water win at Kingsbury Water Park, Tiegen Goodfellow will be looking to further close the gap on championship leader Ben Jelf. Having secured her first National Grand Prix win Tiegen will be hoping she can prove to the boys that it was no fluke and will be upping the pressure on Jelf in a bid to claim her first British Championship Title. Meanwhile Jack Pickles, Elliot Fleet and Tony Judge will be chasing down Thomas Mantripp as they battle it out for a podium finish.
The F4 campaign will see Powertech’s Sam Whittle look to maintain recent form and keep Rob Veares in his mirrors as they cruise round the Chasewater course. Ben Jelf made his first podium finish in the F4 class at Kingsbury and will be hoping for a repeat performance as he continues to get to grips with a new style of racing and new rookie racer Leon King will be hoping to continue to make progress improving with each race.
Making a return to racing after a 6 week break is the mighty F2 Catamarans, a favourite amongst spectators the fleet of 10 catamarans will once more roar into life as they battle it out in their third round of competition. The Championship lead is tied going into the weekend which will mean all eyes will certainly be on the first turn of the weekend as Wigan’s Paul Balfour and Kent’s Colin Jelf both former British Champions go head to head in the campaign. Nothing separates the two formidable drivers and ensuring the pole position in qualifying could be the decider in the Grand Prix campaign.
Powerboat GP Promoter Jason Brewer can’t wait to see the weekends action unfold “We’re unfortunately already nearing the end of the championship with just Chasewater and the Stewartby Finals for most of the classes and the added round for the F2’s at the Bedford Sprints.”
He continues “ There are leaders in the championship that look comfortable but in Powerboat Racing anything can happen and we’re at a really critical point in the campaigns.
No championship is safe and every driver know that so the pressure will be really on this weekend, and when the pressure’s on the racing is immense and will lead to some fantastic viewing for spectators.
The on water action will commence at 10.30 on both Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July with competitors each competing during qualifying and then over three heats to claim the prestigious 2016 Chasewater GP crowns.