COMING UP: 27-29 March - IHRA Offshore National Championship – St. Petersburg

World’s Fastest RIB Enters 2026 UKOPRA Class 1 Championship

World's Fastest RIB Enters 2026 UKOPRA Class 1 Championship

Dean Stoneman has registered a Bernico 52R HYBRID rigid inflatable boat for the 2026 UKOPRA Championship, entering the Class 1 category with the name of Revenge.

The World’s Fastest RIB The Bernico 52R HYBRID achieved a pre-delivery top speed of 104.2 knots, breaking the previous RIB world record of 101.6 knots.

Moani Sweeps UAE F4 Opener After Near-Fatal Norway Crash

Moani Sweeps UAE F4 Opener After Near-Fatal Norway Crash

Ismat Adil Ismat Moani claimed victory in both opening rounds of the 2026 UAE F4 Championship at Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, delivering perfect weekend race performances for Black Pharaoh Racing on Saturday and Sunday.

Salem Muhsen Saeed Alyafeai claimed pole position in Saturday’s qualifying with a 45.569-second lap, but Moani recovered to win Race … Read more

Sara Price Switches from Dakar Podium to E1 Season Opener

Sara Price Switches from Dakar Podium to E1 Season Opener in Six Days

Sara Price Switches from Dakar Podium to E1 Season Opener in Six Days UIM E1 World Championship | Season Preview Sara Price will switch from desert rally raid to electric hydrofoil racing in six days when she competes in the UIM E1 World Championship season opener at Jeddah on 23-24 January.

The American pilot finished … Read more

Rocky Aoki: The Offshore Racer Who Survived Twice

Rocky Aoki: The Restaurant Tycoon Who Survived Offshore Racing’s Deadliest Crash Historical Feature | 1974-1982 Hiroaki ‘Rocky’ Aoki built a restaurant empire then risked it all racing powerboats.

In 1979, a crash under the Golden Gate Bridge gave him a 10 percent chance of survival.

Kimiläinen Marks Two E1 Titles at Finnish Sports Gala

Kimiläinen Marks Two E1 Titles at Finnish Sports Gala

Double E1 champion Emma Kimiläinen attended Finland’s Urheilugaala last night wearing jewellery celebrating her historic powerboat racing achievements.

The Team Brady pilot marked her back-to-back UIM E1 World Championship titles at the annual sports gala held at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki.

Rodi Basso Steps Down as E1 Series CEO

Rodi Basso Transitioning from E1 Series CEO Role UIM E1 World Championship | Leadership Change Rodi Basso is leaving his position as chief executive of the E1 Series, SportBusiness reported on January 9.

The Times revealed today that Basso is transitioning to a non-executive position rather than departing the championship entirely.

IHRA Travel Money Structure Raises Class Grouping Questions

IHRA Travel Money Structure Raises Class Grouping Questions

The International Hot Rod Association’s $650,000 travel money programme has sparked debate amongst American offshore competitors questioning class grouping structures, participation thresholds, and whether equal distribution across boat sizes represents fair compensation.

IHRA’s financial package for the 2026 offshore season includes travel money distributed across seven national races and the World Championship.

Superstock Commits Exclusively to IHRA for 2026

Superstock Commits Exclusively to IHRA for 2026

The Superstock Racing Group has voted by overwhelming majority to make the International Hot Rod Association its exclusive sanctioning body for the 2026 national championship, committing the class solely to IHRA’s seven-round offshore schedule.

The decision represents a significant development in American offshore powerboat racing’s ongoing division between IHRA and the American Power Boat Association, … Read more

E1 Series 2026 Driver Movements and Team Lineups

E1 Series

The 2026 UIM E1 World Championship grid has taken shape with nine teams confirming their driver lineups ahead of the season opener at Jeddah on 23-24 January.

Six teams have announced changes from their 2025 campaigns, with championship-winning Team Brady retaining their driver pairing whilst rivals rebuild around new personnel.

Team Miami Makes Stark Changes for 2026

Hansen and Pita Gago will pilot E1 Team Miami in 2026

After Powerboat News reported yesterday that Steve Curtis has been appointed Team Principal of E1 Team Miami, the team has announced Timmy Hansen and Patricia Pita Gago as its pilots for the 2026 UIM E1 World Championship, replacing Erik Stark and Anna Glennon after a difficult 2025 season that saw the team finish ninth in … Read more

Steve Curtis Appointed E1 Team Miami Principal for 2026

Steve Curtis

Steve Curtis has been appointed Team Principal of E1 Team Miami, powered by MAGNUS, for the 2026 UIM E1 World Championship season.

The nine-time UIM Class 1 World Champion brings decades of offshore racing experience to the electric powerboat championship, which opens its third season at the Jeddah GP on 23-24 January.

Steve Michael Celebrates 30 Years as F1H2O’s Voice

Steve Michael Celebrates 30 Years as F1H2O's Voice

Steve Michael received recognition for 30 years as F1H2O World Championship commentator during a reception in Sharjah on December 21, following the 2025 season finale.

The Florida-based broadcaster, known throughout powerboat racing as “The Voice,” has maintained an unbroken attendance record across 210 races since joining H2O Racing in 1996.

IHRA F1 Series Opens 2026 Entries With Eight-Round Schedule

IHRA F1 Series Opens 2026 Entries With Eight-Round Schedule

The IHRA F1 Powerboat Series has opened entries for the 2026 season, with competitors now able to register across four classes for an eight-round championship beginning in Bradenton, Florida on February 20 and 21.

Entry fees range from $50 for GT-15 boats to $300 for Formula 1 craft, with Formula Lights and Tri-Hull categories set … Read more

Weckström named Finland’s best powerboat racer

Weckström named Finland's best powerboat racer

Alec Weckström has been selected as Finland’s best powerboat racer of 2025 by Urheilutoimittajain Liitto, the Finnish Sports Journalists’ Union.

The Victory Team driver claimed his maiden F1H2O Grand Prix victory at Zhengzhou, China in October and finished fifth in the World Championship with 82 points.

American Offshore Racing Erupts!

A social media post by 2023 Class 1 World Champions 222 Offshore triggered explosive accusations revealing decades of infighting behind American offshore powerboat racing’s latest division.

Team manager Skye Gregory posted an analysis of the competing sanctioning structures facing teams planning 2026 campaigns, identifying uncertainty about rules, international recognition, media coverage and which competitors will … Read more

Fabio Buzzi: The Italian Genius Who Ruled Offshore Racing

Fabio Buzzi winning the 2010 Cowes Torquay Cowes Race in Red FPT

Fabio Buzzi: The Italian Engineering Genius Who Ruled Offshore Racing Historical Feature | 1943-2019 The restaurant was packed that evening after an offshore race when Fabio Buzzi spotted Stefano Casiraghi dining with his wife, Princess Caroline of Monaco, across the room.

Never one to miss an opportunity, Buzzi shouted over to their table: “If you … Read more

Offshore Racing Champion to CIA Witness: The George Morales Story

Offshore Racing Champion to CIA Witness: The George Morales Story

Offshore Champion to CIA Witness: The George Morales Story Historical Investigation | 1983-1991 In December 1983, Colombian-born powerboat sensation George Morales basked in glory as offshore racing’s undisputed king, clinching the American National Championship, Harmsworth Trophy, US1 title, and a blistering world speed record of 116.64 mph, all in his debut open-class season. “I guess … Read more

When Trump Promoted an Offshore Powerboat Race

When Trump Promoted an Offshore Powerboat Race

Trump’s Atlantic City Powerboat Disaster UIM Class 1 | World Championship History Donald Trump currently serves as the 47th President of the United States, having previously served as the 45th President from 2017 to 2021.

Before entering politics, he spent decades building a business empire centred on real estate development and brand licensing.

From 2009 Rivals to 2026 Teammates

From 2009 Rivals to 2026 Teammates: Andersson and Al Qemzi's 17-Year Journey

Jonas Andersson’s move to Team Abu Dhabi for 2026 closes a circle that began 17 years ago on a Liuzhou podium.

The photograph, taken by Chris Davies whilst on assignment for H2O Full Throttle at the 2009 Grand Prix of China, shows Andersson celebrating victory alongside Thani Al Qemzi and Guido Cappellini.

Trask: Where Now?

Trask fastest in warm-up as Torrente and Andersson prepare for title showdown

Grant Trask enters 2026 without a confirmed F1H2O drive after Jonas Andersson confirmed Team Sweden will not race in 2026.

The Australian finished the 2025 season in career-best form with second place in Sharjah on December 21, but Andersson’s departure to Team Abu Dhabi has closed the door on the Swedish operation.

Andersson joins Team Abu Dhabi for 2026 F1H2O season

Andersson joins Team Abu Dhabi for 2026 F1H2O season

Three-time UIM F1H2O World Champion Jonas Andersson has joined the F1H20 Team Abu Dhabi in a three year deal starting from this season.

The 52-year-old Swede leaves Team Sweden after nearly two decades with his own operation to join the UAE-based outfit by Team Principal and 10-time F1H2O World Champion Guido Cappellini who told us … Read more

Warby to Pilot Campbell’s Bluebird K7 at Coniston in May

Bluebird k7 at the Lady Mayor's Show in 2025 - Photo: Colin Blakemore

Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7 will return to Coniston Water on 11-17 May 2026, piloted by Australian water speed record challenger Dave Warby in the hydroplane’s first appearance on the lake since Campbell’s fatal crash on 4 January 1967.

The Lake District National Park Authority granted a speed exemption to lift Coniston Water’s usual 10mph limit … Read more

Historic 1,860hp Gar Wood Hydroplane Heads to Auction

Historic 1,860hp Gar Wood Hydroplane Heads to Auction

A 1931 Garwood Miss America VIII powered by twin supercharged Miller V16 engines producing 1,860 horsepower will cross the auction block at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale on 17 January 2026.

The hydroplane won the Harmsworth Trophy twice, in 1929 and 1931, piloted by American racing legend Garfield “Gar” Wood.