One of Britain's most famous brands, Typhoo tea, is backing a boat in the Powerboat P1 SuperStock Championship which starts this weekend with the opening round in Jersey.

Makers of the nation's favourite drink since 1903, the Typhoo boat will be on the starting grid at the Peters & May Jersey Grand Prix of the Sea. The instantly recognisable Typhoo pillar box red colours will adorn a new 250hp P1 Panther boat which will be raced in Jersey by experienced crew Andy Wilby and Jonny Allbut from Fleet in Hampshire. Typhoo Tea CEO, Keith Packer, commented "Typhoo are proud and honoured to be able to sponsor a boat in this new and exciting sports franchise, recognising the benefit that it can bring to our brand and company values. We have high hopes of Andy competing for a top spot in the competition and putting the 'OO' into P1!'

A highly successful competitor, Wilby returns to driving after spending the 2010 P1 SuperStock season navigating for Ian Brusby's Rough Cut Racing entry.

"It's a tremendous honour to race for Typhoo as it is such a famous name and I am looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the new P1 Panther race-boat after spending last year co-driving", he commented. "

All the reports and feedback I have heard from people that have driven the Panther have been very positive especially the extra safety features. Everyone is going to have the same boat so the racing will be very close and all about, skill, tactics and set-up." The Typhoo boat will be prepared by Wilby's family-run Cardinal Racing team under the watchful eye of Andy's father,

Team Manager, Mel Wilby. "Jersey is a great place which I have visited many times before but never raced in,"Andy added. "The waters can be very rough and tricky which will definitely test the new boat plus both the driver and navigator's skills."