H2O Racing has confirmed race number allocations for the 2026 UIM F1H2O World Championship. Eight teams will field 18 race drivers when the season opens at Cagliari.
The grid is smaller than 2025 by two teams and two drivers. Team Sweden and Red Devil-SMC F1 Team have not returned. Their absence is partially offset by expanded entries at Team Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Team, both of which are running three-boat programmes this season.
Jonas Andersson, who raced under the Team Sweden banner throughout his F1H2O career, joins Team Abu Dhabi alongside Erik Stark and Rashed Al Qemzi. Sami Seliö, confirmed earlier this month as team manager and driver at Comparato F1, takes race number 11.
2026 field at a glance: 8 teams · 18 race drivers · Season opener: Cagliari, Sardinia
Full 2026 confirmed grid
| Team | Country | Driver | # | Engine | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victory Team | 🇦🇪 UAE | Shaun Torrente 🇺🇸 | 1 | Mercury 2-stroke | DAC |
| Alec Weckstrom 🇫🇮 | 3 | ||||
| Team Abu Dhabi | 🇦🇪 UAE | Jonas Andersson 🇸🇪 | 5 | Mercury 2-stroke | DAC |
| Erik Stark 🇸🇪 | 6 | ||||
| Rashed Al Qemzi 🇦🇪 | 35 | ||||
| Sharjah Team | 🇦🇪 UAE | Rusty Wyatt 🇨🇦 | 17 | Mercury 2-stroke | Sharjah |
| Stefan Arand 🇪🇪 | 18 | Sharjah | |||
| Grant Trask 🇦🇺 | 19 | DAC | |||
| China CTIC Team | 🇨🇳 China | Peter Morin 🇫🇷 | 7 | Mercury 2-stroke | Moore |
| Brent Dillard 🇺🇸 | 8 | ||||
| Strømøy Racing | 🇳🇴 Norway | Marit Strømøy 🇳🇴 | 50 | Mercury 360 APX 4-stroke V8 | DAC |
| Bartek Marszalek 🇵🇱 | 77 | Mercury 2-stroke | DAC | ||
| Maverick Racing | 🇫🇷 France | Cédric Deguisne 🇫🇷 | 73 | Mercury 360 APX 4-stroke V8 | Moore |
| Alexandre Bourgeot 🇫🇷 | 74 | Mercury 2-stroke | Moore | ||
| Atlantic Team | 🇵🇹 Portugal | Duarte Benavente 🇵🇹 | 10 | Mercury 2-stroke | Moore |
| Ben Jelf 🇬🇧 | 9 | DAC | |||
| Comparato F1 | 🇮🇹 Italy | Alberto Comparato 🇮🇹 | 44 | Mercury 2-stroke | DAC |
| Sami Seliö 🇫🇮 | 11 | Sharjah |
Reserve drivers: Ahmed Al Fahim (Victory Team).
Two teams gone, two expanded
The departure of Team Sweden and Red Devil-SMC F1 Team reduces the entry count, but the championship retains its depth through the three-boat programmes at Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Both UAE teams have expanded from two boats, bringing six entries from the Gulf alone.
Ferdinand Zandbergen, who partnered Seliö at Red Devil-SMC F1 Team for four seasons, has left F1H2O to focus on his family’s business.
One British driver
Ben Jelf carries British colours for Atlantic Team at number 9, partnering Portuguese driver Duarte Benavente. Jelf was confirmed in March alongside Benavente for the Portuguese outfit’s 2026 campaign.
Calendar
The 2026 UIM F1H2O World Championship calendar has Cagliari as the confirmed opening venue. The Kyrgyzstan round at Lake Issyk-Kul will make history as the championship’s first event in Central Asia.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
