Lings Success in Plymouth Powerboat GP

This was my first Powerboat race report written for www.lings.com

16-06-08: After several long, long nights of hard work testing, making adjustments, and more testing, the Lings Honda Race Team and Miss Toft II were firing on all cylinders and ready to get their season underway. Thankfully there was no repeat of the severe weather conditions that prematurely ended the race weekend in Torquay – in fact conditions in Plymouth were described as ‘near perfect’ for racing, with minimal wave chop on the water and pleasant weather bringing out the spectators.

Lings Honda were drawn in Group A, alongside 8 fiercely competitive and well seasoned teams, and managed a respectable 5^th in qualification. This was no mean feat considering this was only Lings Hondas second competitive outing in their new 225hp boat; their first being the ill-fated qualifier at Torquay. It was all the more pleasing for Lings considering the wealth of experience their competitors shared. Despite their relative lack of experience, Lings Honda have high hopes for this year’s competition having finished as U.K. Champions of the 150hp class in only their first full season competing in the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Series. After the disappointing non-starter of Torquay’s season opener, the Plymouth Grand Prix represented a big chance for Lings Honda to get some points on the board and prove they weren’t there to just make up the numbers.

Saturday’s 5^th place finish meant Lings Honda would begin Sunday in a less than ideal starting position. But the team, well driven by David Cowley and navigated by Chris Jary, held firm and took an excellent 7^th place finish – a great morning’s work. The team knew, though, that the real test was to come in the afternoon and they would have to be on top form to come away with a podium finish.

Obviously pleased by the mornings result and happy to get some points on the board, Lings Honda came out flying in Round 2, taking an early lead which they held tightly over the 5 laps. Indeed, it was only during the last of the five that their lead finally slipped, and last years U.K. 225 Champions ‘Negotiator’ used every ounce of their experience to squeeze past the Lings Honda Team and pip them to a 1^st place finish. This fantastic result means Lings Honda finished the weekend in 3^rd place overall scoring 32 points – a huge boost for the team who now have the mouth-watering prospect of their home Grand Prix in Lowestoft to look forward to.

David Cowley, Driver, said “We as a team have much to learn. We can see that the teams who have been in this class for some time really have the experience that comes from getting time in there powerboat, and this naturally helps when you get down to racing. I am extremly pleased with this weekends racing and I’ve gained a great deal of knowledge, this is our first finish in the premier racing class and to get a podium place has proved we can mix with the best in this class.

Chris Jary, Navigator, was equally pleased with the weekends result. “To get points on the board is great news for the team and can only act as a real confidence boost with our Home event in Lowestoft Suffolk coming up on the 26^th and 27^th of July. The race on Sunday was really much than Saturdays. After Saturdays race we sat down and analysed our performance and understood where we had gone wrong, from this we improved all the way through Sunday to secure the podium finish. We have taken a lot away from this weekend which will help us improve our race and setup. I’d also like to thank all our supporters who made the long journey to plymouth, it was nice to give them a great result and enjoyable racing to watch.”

The other Norfolk contingent, Red Devil sponsored by Holden Honda and crewed by Jonathan Lewis and Graeme Eldred, finished the weekend in 15th place scoring a total of 8 points.