This weekend (1/2 August) see Kent based Jelf Racing Powerboat Team sponsored by Peters & May Racing head to Stewartby Powerboat Racing Club, Bedford for the 2015 Powerboat GP British RYA Sprint Championships where Ben Jelf will hope to secure his 10th British Title.
In what has been some immense racing so far this season the team have had some highs and lows but that is all irrelevant this weekend, past events do not count towards the Sprint Championships so any past problems can be forgotten about as the 5 boat team now compete over the weekend in a bid to win 4 championship titles.
Jonathan Brewer and George Elmore in the GT15 Class are both going head to head each in search of their first British title. They have a daunting task ahead of them as they go into battle with Lowestoft’s Thomas Mantripp who has been on fire in the last two previous rounds and recently secured 2nd at the GT15 World Championships in Finland.
“Thomas will be on a high following his success in Finland but he’s also had a lot of travelling to do over the last couple of weeks and after a while that can take a strain on you. Both George and I know we have good speed and we’ll both be racing on home water so hopefully we can use that to our advantage” Commented Jonathan Brewer
In search of his 10th British Championship Title Ben Jelf will once more be competing in both the GT30 class and F4 Catamaran class. In the GT30 Championship Jelf has been untouchable securing pole position, winning every heat and all four of the Powerboat GP titles so far this year. Although he currently leads the British Championship Ben will not be resting on his laurels knowing that any mistake or wrong move could cost him the title and that his fellow competitors will be waiting in his wake ready to make their move.
Ben Jelf will also compete in the F4 class having recently upgraded to catamaran class following in his father and uncles footsteps once more. In just his second National F4 race Ben will be looking to improve on his 6th place finish from the Chasewater GP as he goes in search of his first catamaran championship title.
“The F4 class has a really strong fleet of racers at the moment and it’s very open and anyone could win, conditions at Chasewater were quite intense and I was hoping to have finished stronger than I did. I’ve done a lot of testing here in the F4 and so hopefully I can secure at least a podium finish in the F4 class this weekend although my fellow competitors won’t make it easy for me as we all have something to prove.” Explains Jelf
The final competitor in the Jelf Racing Team line up this weekend is F2 competitor Colin Jelf. Colin last won the F2 Sprint title seven years ago and is itching to once more reach that top spot. Having made a return to the podium at the previous round at Chasewater securing the silver medal Jelf will be looking to capitalise on recent form. But is in for stiff competition as a first class fleet lines up to secure the F2 title.
“The game is on for the Sprint Championships this weekend and the team are raring to go. We have the pace in each of our classes and each of the team has the skill as individual drivers all we need now is a little bit of luck. With a bit of luck on our side and a lot of hard work hopefully we can secure some more podium finishes and we would love as a team to clinch a sprint championship title or two and reward our sponsors for their continuing support and the team for our hard work and dedication on and off the water.” explains Team Manager Colin Jelf.
The on water action will begin at 10.30 on Saturday 1st August with class qualifications before each class competes over 3 heats to secure the Powerboat GP Sprint Titles.