A Maltese offshore racing team has committed to finishing the 2026 UKOPRA Championship after making their British debut at the Poole Bay 100 on Saturday 13 June. Team Interceptor, running the Visit Malta-sponsored D-6 in Class 3D, retired with an oil circulation problem at Poole but arrived with a full-season plan and the boat is staying in the UK.
Pilot Michael Xuereb and co-pilot Kurt Mifsud are the regular crew for UKOPRA rounds, managed from the shore by team manager Paul Howes. Paul’s son Sam Howes, born in England but based in Malta since 2007, acts as reserve driver in case either Xuereb or Mifsud cannot make it to the UK. Sam also races the UIM World Championships with Mifsud as his co-pilot.
Xuereb described the motivation for crossing to the UK championship as straightforward.
We wanted to start doing UKOPRA for a bit of fun, to meet new people, try new things. We also wanted to give the boat a bit more exposure and make our sponsors happy.
The team missed Round 1 at Southampton with technical issues but intends to be present for every remaining round. Asked about the pressure of racing in front of home sponsors at the Malta round earlier in the season, Xuereb was relaxed.
For us it was another day at work.
The commitment to Britain is equally clear.
We intend to keep the boat here and finish the remainder of the championship.
At Poole, Team Interceptor showed pace before the oil problem ended their race. The conditions held no concern for a crew with European offshore experience.
It was a bit rough, but we are used to it. The boat copes well in this weather, so it won’t deter us for the next event, definitely.
Round 3 of the 2026 UKOPRA Championship takes place at Ocean Village Marina, Southampton on 3-5 July.
UKOPRA 2026 Championship
Follow Team Interceptor and the full UKOPRA season at Powerboat News.
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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.
