This was again part of the Lowestoft GP build-up.  Published on the Friday, before the weekend’s racing began, it was also used to promote the efforts of Lings mechanic Kevin Turner in his own powerboat series on Oulton Broad.  Again, this involved information-gathering about his boat and the series itself.  It was the final piece before the race weekend.

With just days to go before the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Offshore Powerboat Series (F4SA) – the largest Offshore Powerboat race series in the World – arrives in Lowestoft the excitement for the Grand Prix is at a high.

With the first qualifying races taking place on Saturday 26th July, followed by the finals on Sunday 27th, the Lings Racing team have been busy preparing their new 225 horsepower class boat for the race weekend.

Taking to the water yesterday afternoon to familiarise themselves with the Lowestoft water, team Navigator and Lings Operations Director Paul Barkshire said “it’s important to do as much testing as possible, particularly with conditions being so changeable lately!  We have to know how the boat handles in the local water. Obviously last year we came second at Lowestoft in the 150 horsepower class, but the 225 is an altogether different experience – far more powerful and far more challenging to race in.”

Lings Racing made the step up to the Premier 225 horsepower class after wining the 150 class Championship in only their first full season on the water, an incredible achievement that left them wanting more.  Victory achieved, the natural step was to step up a class and compete at the highest level of the F4SA.  It has proven to be every bit as challenging as expected, but the Lings Racing team are proving no pushovers.

In their last race, the Plymouth Grand Prix, the team took a close second, just overtaken on the final corner by last years 225 class Champions.  The team are looking for to top the podium this weekend at their home Grand Prix in Lowestoft, and will be counting on the wide and fervent local support to cheer them on to victory.

Also out on the water this evening is Lings technician Kevin Turner, taking his Lings Racing Hydroplane racing on Oulton Broad as part of the F5T00/O Powerboat Series.  The hydroplane is an incredibly powerful, single-seat powerboat that Kevin competes in both locally and nationally.  Kevin has a rich pedigree with powerboats, being a former double World Champion and a double British Champion, as well as being a former record speed holder in his 500cc Powerboat.

With a 130 horsepower engine, his Hydroplane is capable of speeding over the water at up to an adrenaline-pumping 100mph.  As part of the Lings Racing team Kevin’s Hydroplane has been decorated in the same livery as the Lings 225 horsepower Offshore Powerboat, but unlike the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Series, the F500 is an ‘Open’ class, meaning that where the Offshore Powerboats have to be the same specification the Hydroplanes do not – leading to huge modifications and adding to the already massive technical challenge of competing in a powerboat race series.