27 Seasons and Counting
Benavente will contest his 27th season at the highest level of powerboat racing. The Portuguese driver made his F1H2O debut at the 1999 Grand Prix of Portugal in Portimão and has remained a fixture on the grid in the quarter-century since.
His 2025 campaign was hampered by a series of DNFs at crucial Grand Prix, restricting him to 17th in the Drivers’ World Championship. With more than two decades of circuit racing behind him, Benavente will be aiming to convert that experience into a more consistent points campaign in 2026.
Jelf Returns for Fifth Season
Ben Jelf enters his fifth consecutive season with Atlantic Team. The British driver made an immediate impression in 2025, claiming third place at the Grand Prix of Indonesia to record his first F1H2O podium.
Back-to-back DNFs at both China rounds checked his momentum, and Jelf finished the season 13th in the Drivers’ World Championship. Atlantic Team placed penultimate in the Teams’ World Championship.
Jelf is set to bring his F1H2O boat to Stewartby next month, giving British fans a rare opportunity to see an F1H2O machine in action on home water.
Duarte Benavente
Nationality: 🇵🇹 Portugal
F1H2O Debut: 1999, Grand Prix of Portugal, Portimão
2025 Championship: 17th
2026 Season: 27th at F1H2O level
Ben Jelf
Nationality: 🇬🇧 Great Britain
Seasons with Atlantic Team: 5th
2025 Championship: 13th
Best 2025 Result: 3rd, Grand Prix of Indonesia
Team Confirmation Table
| Team Name | Country | Team Manager | Debut Year | Drivers | Numbers | Engine Type | Hull Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strömmöy Racing | 🇳🇴 Norway | Andrea Colombo | 2021 | Marit Strømøy 🇳🇴 Bartek Marszalek 🇵🇱 |
50 77 |
Mercury 360 APX 4-stroke V8 Mercury 2-stroke |
DAC DAC |
| Maverick Racing | 🇫🇷 France | Jean Vital Deguisne | — | Cédric Deguisne 🇫🇷 Alexandre Bourgeot 🇫🇷 Beranger Robart 🇫🇷 (reserve) |
73 74 — |
Mercury 360 APX 4-stroke V8 Mercury 2-stroke Mercury 2-stroke |
Moore Moore Moore |
| Atlantic Team | 🇵🇹 Portugal | — | — | Duarte Benavente 🇵🇹 Ben Jelf 🇬🇧 |
10 9 |
Mercury 2-stroke Mercury 2-stroke |
Moore DAC |
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.
