Seeing as water was a predominant theme with downpours at Le Mans, F1 and Moto GP - another form of motorsport with water involved took place in Jersey this weekend - with the first P1 Panther 250 powerboat race.
London 13th June – Birmingham’s John Wilson made powerboat racing history by becoming the first ever winner in the new P1 Panther 250 boat and the Coleshill businessman did it in style with two wins on the same day at Saturday’s Peters & May Jersey Grand Prix of the Sea. Wilson’s Premier Cru boat was the class of the SuperStock field in race one, taking a flag to flag win, whilst he inherited the lead by the retirement of Edox with five laps to go in race two.
“We have had a fantastic day and amazing start to the season. Winning both races is just the best feeling but I know from experience that it’s a long season and lots will happen between now and the finale in Liverpool.”
Promoter Powerboat P1 saw eight new 250hp Panther boats take to the startline as the inaugural race for the new boat got underway ahead of its debut in the USA in a few weeks time. “The Panther has been awesome and has run without any major problems, just a few small things that I know we’ll get sorted as we go along”, commented Wilson.
The races in Jersey’s beautiful St Aubin’s Bay also saw the new Typhoo team’s debut and the famous tea brand’s boat came away second in the points after driver Andy Wilby (Fleet) and navigator Jonny Allbut (Southampton) scored second and third placings in the two races.
Championship regulars were shocked by the stunning performance of rookie Team 88 of Simon Bayles (Battersea) and Philippa Baker (Kensington) who finished second in race two after a highly creditable fifth in their first ever race. “ Today was our debut race in powerboats so to have made the podium at the end of the day is just an amazing feeling. The boats are all equal so it really was a driver’s race out there which helps the newcomers be competitive.”
Jonathan Pegler (Geneve) retired from fifth place in race one. “I hooked a corner and we got thrown sideways and I hurt my shoulder. It was just too painful to carry on.” A visit to hospital revealed a broken collar bone which kept Jonathan and navigator Richard Gould out of race two.
P1 250Result Race 1
1. Premier Cru 30m 52s; 2. Typhoo 31m 13s; 3. Edox Swiss Watches 31m 18s; 4. Peters & May Racing 31m 36s; 5. Team 88 31m 40s; 6. Helvetia Wealth 31m 42s; 7. Rough Cut Racing 32m 18s
P1 250 Result Race 2
1. Premier Cru 30m 59s;2. Team 88 31m 09s; 3. Typhoo 31m 19s; 4. Peters & May Racing 31m 57s; 6. Helvetia Wealth 32m 12s.
P1 250 Championship Points: 1, Premier Cru 40; 2, Typhoo 32; 3. Team 88 30; 4. Peters & May Racing 28; 5 Helvetia Wealth 25; 6. Edox Swiss Watches 15; 7. Rough Cut Racing 11.
