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Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship

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Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship
CategoryF1 powerboat
CountryInternational
Inaugural season1981
Drivers24
Teams12
Engine suppliersMercury Marine
Drivers' championFinland Sami Seliö
Teams' championItaly The Mad Croc Team
Official websiteF1 Powerboat Racing
An F1 powerboat rounding a buoy

F1 Powerboat World Championship is a competition of powerboats with rules similar to Formula One car racing. Each F1 powerboat race lasts approximately 45 minutes following a circuit marked out in a selected stretch of water, usually a lake, river, or sheltered bay.

Qualifying periods decide the formation of the grid, and timing equipment records the performance of competitors to decide the final classification and allocation of championship points. The sport is governed by the Monaco based Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM, International Power Boating Association).

Format

Inaugurated in 1981, F1 powerboat racing is a Grand Prix style event, similar to Formula One automobile racing, in which teams compete in 13 venues around the world each season. In the 2006 season, 27 drivers competed for 12 teams, with 24 boats competing in any one race. The races take place along a track of approximately 350 meters with multiple turns, over which the boats can reach 240 kilometers per hour (150 mph). The races are longer than most powerboat races at approximately 45 minutes, but still shorter than most automobile races.

Boats

F1 powerboats at the 2004 Grand Prix of Singapore.

F1 racing uses tunnel hull catamarans that are capable of both high speed and exceptional maneuverability. Overall, the boats weigh 860 pounds (390 kilogrammes), including 260 pounds (118 kilogrammes) of engine. They are 20 feet (6 metres) long and seven feet (2 metres) wide, keeping weight low through extensive use of carbon fiber and kevlar. The tunnel hull design creates aerodynamic lift due to a 'wing' formed by the deck and under surface of the hull. This increases lift and reduces drag, so that at speed only a few inches of the boat touch the water, leading to the high speed possible with these hulls.[1]


F1 boats are powered by a Mercury Marine [citation needed] V6 two stroke that burns 100LL Avgas at a rate of 120 liters (32 gallons) per hour, generating 350 horsepower at 10,500 rpm. This engine can propel the boats to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than two seconds and to a maximum speed of over 250 km/h (155 mph).[citation needed]

Safety

Although F1 boats have not changed much in appearance since the start of the event, the construction and safety has been dramatically improved from the original open-cockpit plywood boats.

The first major development was the hard composite cockpit capsule designed to break away from the rest of the boat in a crash. This also inaugurated the practice of securing the drivers to their seats with a harness. First developed by designer and racer Chris Hodges, this system was optional for a time due to the opposition of the drivers but, after it saved several drivers in major crashes, the UIM mandated it for all boats. In the early 1990s F1 boat builder Dave Burgess introduced a canopy that fully enclosed the cockpit to protect the driver from the full force of water in a nose-dive. In the late 1990s boat builder DAC introduced an airbag situated behind the driver that prevents the cockpit from completely submerging if the boat flips.

These specific changes in safety features were also accompanied by a progression of lighter and stronger composite hulls that also reduced the hazards of racing. F1 drivers now also wear a HANS Head and Neck Restraint device similar to that worn by their Formula One automobile racing counterparts to combat head and neck injuries.

As of the 2007 season, all boats are required to have a protective crash box installed[2]. Potential future safety features include collapsible bows that would deform rather than penetrate another hull.[citation needed]

Drivers

Before obtaining a Super License to drive an F1 boat, drivers undergo a stringent medical and also an immersion test. This involves being strapped into a mock F1 cockpit. The cell is flipped over and the driver has to make his escape while being judged by safety officials.[citation needed]

Coverage

The series is broadcasted live to over twenty countries[3]

Champions

The winners of 2009 Abu Dhabi F1 Powerboat second race; left to right Ahmad Al Hameli from UAE (Runner-up), Jay Price from Qatar (Winner) and Philippe Chiappe from France (Third place)
Season Champion
1981 Italy Renato Molinari
1982 United Kingdom Roger Jenkins
1983 Italy Renato Molinari
1984 Italy Renato Molinari
1985 United Kingdom Bob Spalding
1986 United Kingdom Gene Thibodaux
1987 NOT HELD
1988
1989
1990 United Kingdom John Hill
Season Champion
1991 United Kingdom Jonathan Jones
1992 Italy Fabrizio Bocca
1993 Italy Guido Cappellini
1994 Italy Guido Cappellini
1995 Italy Guido Cappellini
1996 Italy Guido Cappellini
1997 United States Scott Gillman
1998 United Kingdom Jonathan Jones
1999 Italy Guido Cappellini
2000 United States Scott Gillman
Season Champion
2001 Italy Guido Cappellini
2002 Italy Guido Cappellini
2003 Italy Guido Cappellini
2004 United States Scott Gillman
2005 Italy Guido Cappellini
2006 United States Scott Gillman
2007 Finland Sami Seliö
2008 United States Jay Price
2009 Italy Guido Cappellini
2010 Finland Sami Seliö
An F1 powerboat racing in the ChampBoat Series.

F1 ChampBoat series is a competition of powerboats that are very similar to those in the F1 PowerBoat series. The series has existed since 2002 and all the competitions are held in the United States. Terry Rinker has dominated the series so far with four championships; 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2008. [4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Secrets of Tunnel Boat Design", JDRussell,P.Eng. (ISBN# 1-894933-30-3)
  2. ^ "Safety Crash Boxes", f1h2o.com
  3. ^ "Abu Dhabi Powerboat Racing World Championship Emirates". Abudhabi.ms. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  4. ^ "The Official Site of F1 ChampBoat Racing - AMSOIL BECOMES PRESENTING SPONSOR FOR THE F1 CHAMPBOAT SERIES". 2009-04-02. Retrieved 2009-04-17.