Adam Wrenkler and Ardis Slakteris have been reinstated to the 2026 UIM F4 European Championship results at Alüksne, after protests against their disqualification were upheld.
Both drivers were disqualified after technical inspection today. Protest Judge Aivar Arand heard arguments from both and accepted them, overturning the disqualifications.
The reinstatement restores the podium to its original order. Nils Slakteris remains European Champion, with Wrenkler second and Attila Horváth third.
Speaking to Powerboat News, Arand explained the grounds for his decision.
Aivar Arand, Protest Judge for the event
Technical officials made unfortunately a mistake with the rule number on the results and I had to accept the protest.
The disqualifications themselves were issued after technical officials found blueprinted engines and non-standard electrical controls on both boats, reported in Powerboat News’s earlier coverage. Arand’s account does not dispute those findings. The protests succeeded because the paperwork citing the rule number against the drivers contained an error, a procedural point rather than a reversal of the technical findings themselves.
| Pos | Driver | Nat | Heat 1 | Heat 2 | Heat 3 | Heat 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nils Slakteris | LAT | 400 | 400 | 0 | 400 | 1200 |
| 2 | Adam Wrenkler | SWE | 225 | 225 | 0 | 300 | 750 |
| 3 | Attila Horváth | HUN | 300 | 300 | ACC | ACC | 600 |
| 4 | Ardis Slakteris | LAT | 95 | 169 | 0 | 225 | 489 |
| 5 | Oliver Martin | FIN | 169 | 95 | 0 | 53 | 317 |
| 6 | Noel Vänttinen | FIN | 53 | 30 | 0 | 169 | 252 |
| 7 | Matas Kvizikevicius | LTU | 127 | 53 | 0 | 40 | 220 |
| 8 | Niklāvs Rimeicāns | LAT | 17 | 40 | 0 | 127 | 184 |
| 9 | Renārs Spacs | LAT | 40 | 127 | ACC | DNF | 167 |
| 10 | Roberts Minings | LAT | 71 | 71 | ACC | DNS | 142 |
| 11 | Torsten Stangenberg | GER | 22 | 17 | 0 | 71 | 110 |
| 12 | Paulius Stainys | LTU | DNF | DNF | DNS | 95 | 95 |
| 13 | Arthur Sundback | FIN | 30 | 22 | 0 | 30 | 82 |
| 14 | William Leithe Martinsen | NOR | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | 0 |
| 14 | Wilhelm Sundberg | FIN | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | 0 |
| 14 | Simon Jung | SVK | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | 0 |
How We Got Here
Read the technical inspection story that led to the original disqualifications, before this reinstatement.
Horváth and Martin Promoted to Silver and Bronze After F4 Technical Inspection
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.
