The UIM F1H2O World Championship is the highest category in international circuit powerboat racing. Single-pilot closed-cockpit tunnel boats reach speeds in excess of 250 km/h, accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h in under two seconds. The championship is governed by the Union Internationale Motonautique and has run continuously since 1981.
The 2026 season opened at the Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy in Cagliari, with seven rounds confirmed across four continents before the finale at Khalid Lagoon in Sharjah in December. Four-time world champion Shaun Torrente has announced it will be his final season.
The Boats
F1H2O boats are single-pilot tunnel-hull catamarans. The hull rides on two narrow sponsons with an air cushion trapped beneath, reducing water contact to a minimum. At racing speed, most of the hull is airborne.
Two Mercury Racing engines are homologated for 2026. The established unit is a 2-stroke 2.5-litre EFI engine producing approximately 400hp at 10,500rpm, homologated until 31 December 2026. The Mercury Racing 360 APX is the alternative: a naturally aspirated 4-stroke V8 producing 360+hp from 4.6 litres. Neither engine is turbocharged. Both run on 100LL aviation fuel.
The boat and driver together must weigh at least 550kg. The cockpit is a closed safety cell designed to protect against capsize and high-speed impact — standard equipment in a class where racing takes place centimetres from the water surface at speeds regularly exceeding 220 km/h.
How Racing Works
Each F1H2O event runs over three days. Practice and qualifying sessions take place on Friday and Saturday. Two Sprint Races are held on Saturday, with the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Both Sprint Races and the Grand Prix award championship points. A Sprint Race win earns 10 points, with points paid down to 10th place. The Grand Prix pays 20 points for a win, 15 for second, and 12 for third, with points down to 10th.
A driver must complete at least 70% of the race distance to score full points. Between 35% and 69% earns half points. Under 35% earns nothing. The full F1H2O points table is here.
The 2026 Championship
Shaun Torrente (USA, number 1, Victory Team) enters 2026 as the defending drivers’ world champion, having won his fourth title in Sharjah in December 2025. That placed him equal second in the all-time F1H2O champions list alongside Scott Gillman and Alex Carella, behind only Guido Cappellini’s ten. A fifth title would make Torrente the outright second most decorated driver in the championship’s history.
It will also be his last. Torrente confirmed his retirement in April 2026, citing a desire to focus on his business interests in Florida. Victory Team, who won their first-ever F1H2O Teams’ Championship alongside Torrente last season after three decades of dominance in offshore racing, begin 2026 as defending champions on both counts.
The 2026 entry comprises 18 drivers across eight teams, with live standings updated after each round.
2026 Teams and Drivers
| # | Driver | Nationality | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shaun Torrente | USA | Victory Team |
| 3 | Alec Weckstrom | Finland | Victory Team |
| 5 | Jonas Andersson | Sweden | Team Abu Dhabi |
| 6 | Erik Stark | Sweden | Team Abu Dhabi |
| 35 | Rashed Al Qemzi | UAE | Team Abu Dhabi |
| 7 | Peter Morin | France | China CTIC Team |
| 8 | Brent Dillard | USA | China CTIC Team |
| 9 | Ben Jelf | Great Britain | Atlantic Team |
| 10 | Duarte Benavente | Portugal | Atlantic Team |
| 11 | Sami Seliö | Finland | Comparato F1 |
| 44 | Alberto Comparato | Italy | Comparato F1 |
| 17 | Rusty Wyatt | Canada | Sharjah Team |
| 18 | Stefan Arand | Estonia | Sharjah Team |
| 19 | Grant Trask | Australia | Sharjah Team |
| 50 | Marit Strømøy | Norway | Strømøy Racing |
| 77 | Bartek Marszałek | Poland | Strømøy Racing |
| 73 | Cédric Deguisne | France | Maverick Racing |
| 74 | Alexandre Bourgeot | France | Maverick Racing |
2026 Calendar
| Round | Dates | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29-31 May | Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy | Cagliari, Italy |
| 2 | 31 Jul-2 Aug | Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan | Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan |
| 3 | 28-30 Sep | Grand Prix of China | China (TBA) |
| 4 | 3-4 Oct | Grand Prix of China – Shanghai | Baoshan, Shanghai, China |
| 5 | 27-29 Nov | Grand Prix of Jeddah | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| 6 | 11-13 Dec | Grand Prix of the Middle East | TBA |
| 7 | 18-20 Dec | Road to Sharjah Grand Prix of Sharjah | Khalid Lagoon, Sharjah, UAE |
Follow the 2026 F1H2O Season
Race reports, results, and championship analysis throughout 2026.
All F1H2O CoverageFrequently Asked Questions
What is the UIM F1H2O World Championship?
The UIM F1H2O World Championship is the highest category in international circuit powerboat racing, governed by the Union Internationale Motonautique. Racing uses single-pilot closed-cockpit tunnel-hull catamaran boats and has run continuously since 1981.
How fast do F1H2O boats go?
F1H2O boats reach speeds in excess of 250 km/h and accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h in under two seconds. The tunnel-hull design lifts the boat clear of the water at speed, leaving only the propeller and the tips of the sponsons in contact with the surface.
What engine does F1H2O use?
Two Mercury Racing engines are homologated for the 2026 season. The first is a 2-stroke 2.5-litre EFI unit producing approximately 400hp at 10,500rpm. The second is the Mercury Racing 360 APX, a naturally aspirated 4-stroke V8 producing 360+hp from 4.6 litres. Both run on 100LL aviation fuel. Neither is turbocharged.
How is the F1H2O World Championship decided?
Each event has two Sprint Races on Saturday and a Grand Prix on Sunday. Sprint Race points run from 10 (first) to 1 (tenth). Grand Prix points run from 20 (first) to 1 (tenth). The driver with the most accumulated points at the end of the season is world champion.
Who is the current F1H2O World Champion?
Shaun Torrente (USA, Victory Team) is the defending F1H2O World Champion. He won his fourth drivers’ title at the 2025 season finale in Sharjah, placing him equal second in the all-time champions list. 2026 is his final season before retirement.
How many teams compete in F1H2O?
Eight teams entered the 2026 UIM F1H2O World Championship: Victory Team, Team Abu Dhabi, China CTIC Team, Atlantic Team, Comparato F1, Sharjah Team, Strømøy Racing, and Maverick Racing. The field comprises 18 drivers from 12 nationalities.
Where are F1H2O races held?
F1H2O races are held on temporary circuits laid out on rivers, sea bays, and lakes. The 2026 calendar runs through Italy, Kyrgyzstan, China, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The traditional season finale is the Grand Prix of Sharjah at Khalid Lagoon in the UAE.
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.
