Last weekend Kent based Powerboat Racing team Jelf Racing headed to Carr Mill Dam, St Helens for the opening round of the 2015 Powerboat GP Championship. Where amongst 30 other teams they battled it out for the Lancashire GP titles and the first important points in the championship campaign.
Looking to make an early impact on the championship was Jelf Racing’s reigning GT30 European champion Ben Jelf. After retiring from the GT15 class Ben Jelf is spending the 2015 season searching for a triple crown in the GT30 class as he aims for British, European and World glory.
With winter training proving a success Ben had only one thing in his mind for the weekend and that was walking away with the first honors of the season and the 2015 Lancashire GP GT30 crown. Ben carried off where he left the 2014 season right at the front of the fleet as he once more carved his way around the course securing pole position with flawless ease. Heading into the heats he carried off a faultless campaign storming his way through the heats to take 3 out of 3 wins and his first trophy of the season.
Next up were Jelf Racing’s junior racers George Elmore and Jonathan Brewer in the GT15 class. Seven youngsters battled it out for the all important pole position in qualifying and as the results came in Jonathan had the all important quickest lap and first place and George securing 6th on the starting grid. Heat 1 was won by reigning British Champion Thomas Mantripp but with Jonathan stealing the Heat 2 win and his first career win on home water.
This meant they were tied on points the GT15 Lancashire GP would be decided on the 3rd and final heat. Thomas took the lead but once again Jonathan bore down on him not giving him an inch managing to squeeze past him to take the lead for a couple of laps before the determined champion took his opportunity to reclaim the lead and pull away to the chequered flag and with it the Lancashire GP title leaving Jonathan the silver medal spot. Strong consistent racing from George saw him finish in 5th place overall and gaining experience every race.
Unfortunately brothers Colin and Owen Jelf competing in the F2 class weren’t going to be blessed with such a successful start to the season as they were both bothered by technical problems that would see them both with a lot of work to do. Colin lost a prop shaft with his best prop attached during qualifying and Owen was suffering from a throttle sensor fault meaning he was losing revs and his speed suffered as a result. Looking forward to the rest of the season and important championship points, Owen lent Colin his spare gearbox & prop so both of them could continue to race and collect all important points.
Colin secured 4th overall and Owen took 6th in the Lancashire GP and both will now turn their attentions to the next round at Oulton Broad in a couple of weeks and will be chasing down the front runners for the podium places.
Team Manager Colin Jelf had this to say about the highs and lows of the weekend “Ben, Jonathan and George all raced fantastically this weekend and it looks really promising for more success throughout the season. We’re all really proud of them all!”
He continued “Both Owen and I had problems this weekend but we’ve already started to rectify them and we’ll both look to come back stronger at the next round. A huge thanks to all the team that have worked so hard this weekend and also a big thank you to our sponsors and supporters who are invaluable to the team and its successes.”
The team’s attention now turn to the Lowestoft GP at Oulton Broad on the 24th & 25th May where they will all be back in action and going for gold.