Estonia’s Standard-Bearer: Stefan Arand

From a 2012 rookie to F1H2O championship contender, Stefan Arand has systematically conquered every major powerboat racing category on his path to the top.

The 23-year-old Estonian isn’t just another talented driver making the jump to F1H2O – he’s a proven championship winner with titles across GT15, GT30, F4, and Offshore categories who now sits fourth in the 2025 F1H2O standings with the Sharjah Team.

Early Dominance (2014-2018)

Back-to-back GT15 World and European Championships in 2014-2015 announced Arand’s arrival on the international stage. More impressive was his consistency – three consecutive UIM Junior Driver of the Year awards from 2016-2018, followed by additional world titles in both GT15 and GT30 categories in 2017-2018. The Offshore 3J World Championship in 2019 proved his versatility beyond circuit racing.

The 2022 F4 World Championship victory was the highlight of his junior career, a title that served as his calling card for UIM F2 and eventually F1H2O competition.

The F2 Transition: Stepping Towards F1H2O

In 2023, Arand took the crucial step towards his ultimate goal by entering the UIM F2 World Championship and his debut F2 season was impressive, culminating in a championship bronze medal behind Rashed Al-Qemzi and Edgaras Riabko.

The 2025 UIM F2 season was contested over four rounds, with Arand finishing seventh overall with consistent points finishes. His season highlight came at the final round in Vila Veha, where he secured a fourth-place finish.

The Portuguese round was particularly memorable for Arand. Starting the race strongly, he maintained fourth position through a couple of yellow flags and only a late radio communication issue cost him a potential podium position.

F1H2O: The Ultimate Challenge

2024 marked a historic moment in Estonian motorsport history as Stefan Arand made his debut in the UIM F1H2O World Championship. As the first official driver to represent Estonia at powerboat racing’s highest level, Arand carried not just personal ambitions but national pride into every race.

His rookie F1H2O season with Team Bình Định-Viet Nam saw him racing alongside defending World Champion Jonas Andersson. This partnership provided invaluable learning opportunities, as Arand could observe and learn from one of the sport’s most successful drivers.

2025: A New Chapter with Sharjah Team

For the 2025 season, Arand made a significant career move by joining the Sharjah Team, where he partners with Canadian Rusty Wyatt under American team manager Scott Gillman. The four-time world champion brings top F1H2O experience, having achieved 55 podiums from just 92 starts with a remarkable 90% podium rate – making him the perfect mentor for developing championship-calibre drivers.

“It has been a dream for as long as I can remember,” Arand reflected on reaching F1H2O.

This dream-driven approach has been evident throughout his career progression and he currently sits in fourth position in the F1H2O championship standings.

The upcoming races, including the Shanghai round in early October, represent crucial opportunities for Arand to build on his championship position.

His journey from Baltic waters to F1H2O championship contention isn’t complete yet, but Arand has proven he delivers when titles matter – the defining trait that separates contenders from champions.