Ten teams will contest the penultimate round of the 2025 UIM XCAT World Championship when Kuwait hosts Round 2 from 20-22 November, with the Victory Team fielding two boats.
Entry List Features Home Nation Kuwait
Kuwait’s home entry features Abdullatif Al Omani and Khalid Ali, with Bader Al Dousari named as their reserve driver. The Kuwaiti boat operates under a technical dispensation allowing Mercury 300R engines rather than the standard ROS400 powerplants, with a compensatory minimum weight of 2,200kg.
Victory, the championship leaders will have Salem Al Adidi and Eisa Al Ali piloting the #7 boat holding a nine-point advantage over Team GB’s Scott Williams and Martin Campbell, whilst Victory #33 is entered with drivers to be announced.
| No. | Team | Driver 1 | Driver 2 | Reserve | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Swecat | Sebastian Groth | Mikael Bengtsson | – | Sweden |
| 3 | Faz Marine | Arif Al Zaffain | Francis Notschaele | – | UAE |
| 7 | Victory Team | Salem Al Adidi | Eisa Al Ali | – | UAE |
| 8 | Team GB | Scott Williams | Martin Campbell | – | Great Britain |
| 9 | Sharjah Team | Mikhail Kitashev | Shaun Torrente | Konstantin Ustinov | UAE |
| 16 | Mate USA | Giampaolo Montavoci | Alberto Huober | – | Italy |
| 17 | Kuwait | Abdullatif Al Omani | Khalid Ali | Bader Al Dousari | Kuwait |
| 33 | Victory Team | TBA | TBA | – | UAE |
| 55 | Energima | Erik Sundblad Johansen | Marit Strømøy | – | Norway |
| 96 | HPI Fujairah Racing Team | Rosario Schiano Di Cola | Giuseppe Schiano Di Cola | – | Italy |
Race Format and Course
Each race covers 56.01 nautical miles comprising a start lap of 4.35 nautical miles, 13 race laps totalling 45.50 nautical miles, and two short laps of 6.16 nautical miles. The 70 per cent rule applies at the start lap plus nine race laps plus one short lap.
Mandatory long laps feature twice per race. The first must be completed between lap three and the 70 per cent distance, with the second required before the chequered flag. Failure to complete both long laps results in disqualification.
Races finish 60 minutes plus one lap after the green flag, or at completion of the prescribed distance, whichever occurs first.
Weekend Schedule
| Day | Session | Local time (AST, UTC+3) | Your time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 19 November | |||
| Technical scrutineering | 09:00 – 16:00 | 09:00 | |
| Test session | 12:00 – 16:00 | 12:00 | |
| Registration | 17:00 – 18:00 | 17:00 | |
| Drivers briefing | 19:00 | 19:00 | |
| Thursday 20 November | |||
| Official practice | 09:00 – 10:30 | 09:00 | |
| Pole Position (Q1) | 11:15 – 12:30 | 11:15 | |
| Race 1 | 15:00 | 15:00 | |
| Friday 21 November | |||
| Official practice | 10:00 – 11:30 | 10:00 | |
| Pole Position (Q2) | 15:00 – 16:15 | 15:00 | |
| Speed Cat Run | 18:00 | 18:00 | |
| Saturday 22 November | |||
| Official practice | 10:30 – 12:00 | 10:30 | |
| Race 2 | 15:00 | 15:00 | |
| Prize giving and gala dinner | 20:30 | 20:30 | |
The Kuwait Sea Sport Club organises the event under UIM sanction, with racing conducted on the Salmiya seafront along the Gulf Road. The championship concludes with Round 3 in Dubai on 12 December.
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.
