Action of the highest order comes to Jersey just a week from now when the first round of the 2011 P1 SuperStock Championship - the Peters & May Jersey Grand Prix of the Sea - takes place in the glistening waters around St Aubin's Bay on 11/12 June. As the event edges ever closer, anticipation is reaching fever-pitch with Britain's top powerboat racers determined to begin the five-event championship in winning style. Racing at speeds of up to 70mph, the action is fast and furious and a spectator-friendly atmosphere means this is an unmissable opportunity to witness the exciting sport at close-quarters. What's more, there are two classes - P1 Panther 250 and P1 150 - to provide double the action. With that in mind, the event marks the racing debut of the brand new P1 Panther 28SS boat, a significant moment in powerboat competition in the UK as the 250hp craft breaks cover. Designed and created to deliver a more cost-effective form of national level powerboat racing, the new one-make class is set to cause major ripples...quite literally! Leading the entry for the Peters & May Jersey Grand Prix of the Sea are eight P1 Panther 250 boats in the headline class. Hugely successful car racer Martin Short teams-up with navigator Steven Mitchell in the Peters & May vessel, Jonathan Pegler and Richard Gould will be in the Haas Racing entry and Andy Wilby and Johnny Allbut pilot the Typhoo boat. Looking ahead to his team's debut, Short said: "I had no thoughts at all about competing on the water until I saw the P1 boat on display at the Autosport International Show in January. I was bowled over with the boat and engine, and the affordability of the racing. There is a big push going on and a lot of effort going into the series. "We are all incredibly green and new at this and, frankly, 'out of our depth' in many ways, but we're all looking forward to learning about racing on the water...it really does feel like I am starting out all over again, as I did in motor racing in 1987. My wife Michelle is, as ever, totally supportive and my young boys, Morgan and Marcus, are very excited by it all!" Reigning P1 150 Champion John Wilson, along with navigator Neil Scarborough, graduates to the 250s in the Premier Cru boat with further entries from SGB Racing, with Simon Bayles and Philippa Baker onboard, and Ian Brusby and Dan Whapples in the Roughcut Racing boat. Wilson said: "Neil and I have just been going over our new P1 250 Panther, getting to know all the systems. To say that we are really excited about the start of the new series would be something of an understatement! "Although we won the 150 series last year we are under no illusions that the move up to the new P1 250 Panther series represents a big challenge. We are confident the experience we have gained working together for the last three years will stand us in good stead to be able to put in a strong performance in our new "Premier Cru" boat. We look forward to meeting lots of new race fans in Jersey so come along and say hello." World's top lady racer to make welcome return... Rapid lady racer Shelley Jory-Leigh, British Powerboat Champion and the top female competitor in the world, will make a welcome and very popular return to action in the Helvethia Wealth craft alongside navigator Dan Smith. Bidding for a world title last year, her hopes were dashed at the third round in Sardinia when a massive accident resulted in hospitalisation. Thankfully, she's back and as determined as ever to go well. "I am excited, nervous and scared all in one", said Jory-Leigh, "I love the adrenalin buzz of a new race team and the new P1 Panther boat is great to drive. The first race is going to be a big hurdle for me after last year's accident but I am determined to get back on the horse as they say. P1 Superstock has got the perfect series. "I used to holiday in Jersey as a young child and I have very fond memories. We used to spend every Christmas at the Jersey Holiday village so to be back doing my first race there is great. I also won my first British Championship in Guernsey so the Channel Islands usually bring me good luck!" Jersey-based Team Fox, featuring Martin Colligan and Liam McDermott, provides home interest in the P1 150 Class which is for mono-hull, 150hp craft. Rose Lores and Tom Hunter will run in the Eclipse entry, GSS Mermaid will be raced by Dave Hobson and Kirsty Hobson while Stuart and Sarah Cureton will challenge in their Team Purple vessel. The six-boat class is completed by Vincent Berridge and Jade Berridge, in Black Magic, and the Aztec Racing boat of Azam Ali and Jesus Esteve. Jersey, of course, has long been associated with powerboat racing so the welcome return of top class action next weekend is expected to attract thousands of spectators. With superb vantage points on offer at St Aubin's Bay, fans can soak-up every bit of the action. On Saturday, 11 June, some spectacular one-on-one match racing will be the order of the day on a three-buoy course. On Sunday, 12 June, a mass-start encounter will take place close to the shore to provide the very best in mouth-watering powerboat competition. In addition to the P1 SuperStock racing there will be some fantastic jet-ski action courtesy of the new AquaX series. As the only jet-ski class to compete on the sea, the series is set to become a popular attraction with races following a similar format to those of SuperStock. The Peters & May Jersey Grand Prix of the Sea race timetable: Saturday, 11th June: Match Races P1 150 14:15 Match Races P1 Panther 250 15:00 Match Races AquaX 16:00 Sunday 12th June 2011 Freestyle Jetski Display 13:00 P1 Panther 250/P1 150 Race 1 14:00 AquaX Endurance Race 1 15:00 P1 Panther 250/P1 510 Race 2 16:00 AquaX Endurance Race 2 17:00 Prize Giving 18:00