Energima have been putting the Mercury 200R ROS through its paces at Tvedestrand, the Norwegian venue that hosted the 3D World Championship final in 2022. The team have posted photos and videos of the sessions on social media over the past week, with Erik Sundblad on the throttle and André Strand at the wheel of their Faz Marine D55.
The footage gives a clear impression of how the new engine sounds under load. Running 15-inch shafts on both units, the two four-strokes produce a distinctive note that the ROS modifications push further still.
There is plenty riding on how the pre-season goes. The Mercury 200R ROS becomes the only engine permitted in the class from 2027, making this season the last in which the established Mercury 200XS two-stroke runs alongside it in competition. Nearly half the field has already committed to the new motors. How many will race with them in 2026, rather than sticking with the proven 200XS, should become clear at the opening round in June at Rodi Garganico in Italy.
The teams that put in the most running time on the four-stroke before 2027 will start that season with a head start. Energima, to judge by their activity at Tvedestrand, are not planning to leave that to chance.
The hope within the class is that the transition also draws more boats in, adding to a field that is already strong. Pre-season reports from Energima and others will follow as the season gets under way.
Claudio Cappelli reports for Powerboat News from Italy.
Claudio Cappelli has worked in professional offshore powerboat racing since 2012, contributing to championship campaigns in XCAT, 3D offshore, P1, and F1H2O.
He currently works with Team Blu Banca in the UIM 3D Offshore World Championship and has previously been involved with Cigarette Racing Team Europe and Team Comparato.
His technical knowledge and access to European offshore teams provides insight into the operational and regulatory challenges facing the sport.
