6th August 2006 - British Powerboat Grand Prix - Plymouth
Class 1 powerboat racing is the equivalent to formula one racing. Plymouth has been lucky to host the British Grand Prix since 2001. This years event was sponsored Honda.
)
)
Each of the 10 championship races held in Quatar, Spain, Norway, Slovenia and Dubai as well as Plymouth are approx 100 nautical miles in length lasting an hour maximum.
)
)
Sutton harbour, overlooking Queen Anne's Battery was the location of the pits where the powerboats are lowered by crane into the water.
)
)
)
The race had it's moments with Spirit of Norway dropping from third to seventh after returning to the pits to replace a broken propeller. I was not able to capture Chris Parsonage and James Sheppard in King of Shaves crashing out on lap 8.
The image below shows the end result with the boat overturned and the safety boat deployed.
)
)
Plymouth sound makes an ideal ampitheatre to view the action.
)
)
)
)
On the podium are Victory 77's Mohammed Al Marri and Jean Marc Sanchez winners of a dramatic Honda British Grand Prix. Qatar 95 finished second and Victory 7's Nadir Bin Hendi and Ahmed Al Suwaidi taking their first podium, finishing third.
)
)
The full result was
1. Victory 77 - Al Marri (UAE)/Sanchez (FR) 00.59.53,42
2. Qatar 95 - Al Sulaiti (QAT)/Di Biase (ITA) 01.00.03,31
3. Victory 7 - Hendi (UAE)/Al Suwaidi (UAE) 01.00.12,89
4. Foresti & Suardi-Roscioli Hotels - Montavoci (ITA)/Cirilli (ESP) 01.00.48,76
5. Jotun - Tandberg (NOR)/Zaborowski (NOR) 01.00.05,92
6. Ceramiche Flaminia - Chillocci (ITA)/Lepppala (FIN) 01.01.09,79
7. Spirit of Norway - Gjelsten (NOR)/Curtis (GB) 01.00.21,34
8. SeveneleveN - Giorgi (ITA)/Nilsen (NOR) 01.02.09,82
Did not finish - King of Shaves - Parsonage (GB)/Sheppard (GB)
Did not finish - Qatar 96 - Al Thani (QAT)/Nicolini (ITA)
