Eastbourne Extreme, the south coast resort’s hugely popular free-to-view extreme sports festival, will welcome the stars of the P1 SuperStock Championship less than a fortnight from now when the UK’s top powerboat racers resume their 2012 battle over the weekend of 14/15 July.
Marking P1 SuperStock’s first ever visit to Eastbourne, the third event of the season is expected to be the biggest of the year so far with the racers in the P1 250 and P1 150 classes headlining a packed two- day programme of the best in extreme sports action.
Dean Stoneman (Southampton) and Dean Paling (Southampton) lead the way in the P1 250 class as the championship prepares for its return to the south coast, with the Pickfords duo having emerged victorious from P1 SuperStock’s annual visit to Hull in East Yorkshire just under three weeks ago.
Since making his competitive powerboat debut at the beginning of the season, motor racing champion Stoneman – whose involvement in P1 SuperStock forms part of his recovery from an aggressive form of cancer – has been the driver to beat and he intends to continue his winning ways.
Challenging hard, as always, will be reigning champions John Wilson (Coleshill) and Neil Scarborough (Monks Risborough) in their Pertemps P1 250 Panther. Although finishing second to Pickfords in very choppy conditions in Hull, the experienced duo should not be underestimated in either rough or calm waters and will certainly be a threat in Eastbourne.Third in the standings is the Typhoo boat, piloted by Andy Wilby (Fleet), closely followed by Oval Racing’s James Norvill (Newport) and Jon Collingbourne (Newport), the Peters & May with Brookspeed Racing crew of Mike Lovell (Southampton) and Luke Elkin (Southampton) and PaLu’s Simon Bayles (Battersea) and Philippa Baker (Kensington).The entry in the headline P1 250 class is completed by Edox pairing Ian Brusby (Doncaster) and new navigator Will Nurse along with P1 SuperStock rookies Nick Williams (Amersham) – son of former World Formula One Powerboat Champion, Tony – and Aaron Emmett (Amersham) in the IFX Racing vessel (pictured above by Gary Bray).In the P1 150 class the action is guaranteed to be as close as ever with two husband and wife duos currently setting the pace. Reigning champion crew Team Purple, Stuart and Sara Cureton (Lindford), will arrive in Eastbourne with a slim points lead over Macdonald Mermaid’s David and Kirsty Toozs-Hobson (Arundel).
Third in the championship is another family affair with father and daughter team Vince and Jade Berridge (Hemel Hempstead) having made an excellent start to the season in their Black Magic entry with strong outings in Plymouth and Hull.
Add in the Team 73 crew of Rose Lores (Stubbington) and John Donnelly (Hampshire), PowerTech Marine’s Sam Whittle (Hampton Hill) and Andy Streeting (Camberley) and the inspirational Pertemps supported Mission Motorsport entry – a charitable organisation providing rehabilitation opportunities for ex-servicemen – and you have al the ingredients for action every bit as spectacular as the headline class.
Round three of the P1 SuperStock season, the Eastbourne Grand Prix of the Sea, will take place a little over a week from now on 14/15 July.
