Swedish driver claims 2025 UIM F2 World Championship after brother Hilmer retires with technical failure in dramatic Vila Velha de Ródão finale
Mathilda Wiberg has rewritten powerboat racing history. The 20-year-old Swedish driver claimed victory at the Grand Prix of Portugal II to secure the 2025 UIM F2 World Championship, becoming the first woman ever to win a Formula-class world championship in powerboat racing.
Her triumph came after a race punctuated by mechanical failures that eliminated both her championship rivals – championship leader Hilmer Wiberg retiring with a technical issue on lap 25, and pole-sitter Peter Morin suffering a heartbreaking engine failure caused by a fuse costing less than one euro.
A Championship Decided by Cruel Fortune
The race that would crown powerboat racing’s most historic champion began with early drama that shaped the entire championship battle. Peter Morin, starting from pole position with hopes of capitalising on championship chaos, saw his dreams evaporate when his engine failed due to the cheapest of failures, a blown fuse worth under €1.
Morin’s stricken boat prompted the first yellow flag of the race, a bitter irony for a driver whose meticulous preparation had earned him pole position. The mechanical failure represented one of racing’s cruellest twists, a world championship lost to a component that costs less than a cup of coffee.
The second yellow flag followed when Johan Österberg suffered a dramatic accident.
Hilmer’s Title Defence Crumbles
Championship leader Hilmer Wiberg’s title challenge unravelled on lap 25 when his engine let go forcing his retirement and ending his hopes.
Mathilda’s Moment of Destiny
With her main rivals eliminated by mechanical failures, Mathilda Wiberg controlled the race from the front, setting a fastest lap of 53.814.
Her victory margin of 1.968 seconds over Edgaras Riabko was decisive but not dominant, a professional performance that demonstrated the racecraft and composure that had carried her to this historic moment. The championship mathematics were academic long before the chequered flag, but Mathilda’s conduct throughout reflected the maturity that had defined her breakthrough season.
A Season of Redemption
Mathilda’s championship triumph represents one of powerboat racing’s great comeback stories. After scoring just two points from the season-opening round at Brindisi, many had written off her title chances before the campaign had barely begun.
Her surge began in Klaipėda with a dominant 20-point haul, followed by a crucial 12-point score in Peso da Régua that put her within touching distance of history. That momentum proved decisive as she entered Vila Velha de Ródão with belief, pace, and ultimately, the fortune that championship-winning campaigns require.
Supporting Cast Delivers
Behind the championship drama, several drivers delivered standout performances in the finale. Edgaras Riabko claimed his first podium of the season with second place, the Lithuanian’s pace throughout the weekend suggesting he could be a championship contender in 2026.
Local favourite Duarte Benavente provided Portuguese fans with a popular podium finish in third, the former world champion’s consistent speed throughout the weekend culminating in a well-deserved rostrum appearance on home soil.
Stefan Arand secured fourth position ahead of Nelson Morin, whilst Matthew Palfreyman’s sixth place represented a solid recovery from his qualifying disappointment. The British driver’s championship hopes had long since evaporated, but his professional approach in adversity demonstrated the character that defines elite competitors.
Grand Prix of Portugal II – Final Results
Pos |
Num |
Driver |
Nat |
Gap |
Best Lap |
Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
7 |
Mathilda Wiberg 🏆 |
SWE |
– |
53.814 |
40 |
2 |
41 |
Edgaras Riabko |
LTU |
+1.968 |
53.783 |
40 |
3 |
45 |
Duarte Benavente |
POR |
+7.396 |
53.671 |
40 |
4 |
18 |
Stefan Arand |
EST |
+16.621 |
53.336 |
40 |
5 |
33 |
Nelson Morin |
FRA |
+20.620 |
53.530 |
40 |
6 |
14 |
Matthew Palfreyman |
GBR |
+39.856 |
53.866 |
40 |
7 |
9 |
Mette Bjerknæs |
GBR |
+42.892 |
49.921 |
40 |
8 |
74 |
Giacomo Sacchi |
MON |
+49.025 |
54.851 |
40 |
9 |
96 |
Roope Virtanen |
FIN |
+50.245 |
54.484 |
40 |
10 |
1 |
Rashed Al Qemzi |
UAE |
+1 Lap |
54.676 |
39 |
11 |
36 |
Salem Al Yafei |
UAE |
+1 Lap |
45.052 |
39 |
12 |
3 |
Owen Jelf |
GBR |
+1 Lap |
45.676 |
39 |
13 |
25 |
Tino Lehto |
FIN |
+2 Laps |
45.663 |
38 |
14 |
70 |
Hilmer Wiberg (Technical) |
SWE |
+15 Laps |
53.920 |
25 |
15 |
2 |
Johan Österberg (Accident) |
SWE |
+34 Laps |
45.260 |
6 |
DNF |
11 |
Peter Morin (Engine/Fuse) |
FRA |
DNF |
– |
– |
A Legacy Defining Moment
As Mathilda Wiberg crossed the finish line at Vila Velha de Ródão, she didn’t just win a race, she shattered a barrier that had stood for decades in powerboat racing. Her triumph represents validation for every young girl who has ever dreamed of competing at the highest level.
The championship celebration that followed was a moment of pure emotion, as the realisation of her historic achievement hit home. After decades of women competing in powerboat racing, the breakthrough moment had finally arrived.
The 2025 UIM F2 World Championship will be remembered not just for its compelling competition, but as the season when powerboat racing’s ultimate glass ceiling was finally broken. Mathilda Wiberg’s name will forever be associated with that breakthrough – the first, but certainly not the last, woman to claim a Formula-class world championship.
History was made in Vila Velha de Ródão.
The sport of powerboat racing will never be quite the same again.
John Moore’s 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 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
