Nikita Lijcs won the 2025 UIM F2 European Championship in Kaunas, Lithuania, taking three heat victories from four to claim the title. The Latvian’s boat #71, powered by a Mercury 4-stroke 4.6L V8 250 APX motor, recorded the first win for that engine specification in UIM F2 competition.
Qualifying
Jarno Vilmunen of Finland set the fastest time in qualifying’s third run with a lap of 48.744 seconds to take pole position. Lijcs was 0.006 seconds behind on 48.750, with Stefan Hagin of Germany qualifying third on 48.873.
| Pos | No. | Driver | Country | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Jarno Vilmunen | FIN | 49.852 | 49.537 | 48.744 |
| 2 | 71 | Nikita Lijcs | LAT | 50.762 | 50.861 | 48.750 |
| 3 | 19 | Stefan Hagin | GER | 51.227 | 50.396 | 48.873 |
| 4 | 45 | Duarte Benavente | POR | 50.932 | 51.284 | 50.523 |
| 5 | 15 | Dainis Podžuks | LAT | 50.944 | 50.966 | – |
| 6 | 7 | Mathilda Wiberg | SWE | 51.181 | 51.228 | DNS |
| 7 | 70 | Hilmer Wiberg | SWE | 51.228 | 51.393 | – |
| 8 | 41 | Edgaras Riabko | LTU | 50.708 | 51.900 | – |
| 9 | 53 | Alexander Lindholm | FIN | 51.620 | 51.959 | – |
| 10 | 25 | Tino Lehto | FIN | 52.818 | 52.592 | – |
| 11 | 30 | Sam Whittle | GBR | 50.918 | 52.809 | – |
| 12 | 77 | Tobias Munthe-Kaas | NOR | 51.778 | 53.845 | – |
| 13 | 29 | Egidijus Dagilis | LTU | 54.134 | – | – |
| 14 | 18 | Stefan Arand | EST | DNF | – | – |
| 15 | 22 | Peter Žak | SVK | DNF | – | – |
Heat 1
Lijcs converted his front-row grid position immediately and led every lap of the 15-lap heat. Vilmunen finished second, 13.205 seconds back, with Podžuks completing the podium in third. Edgaras Riabko crossed the line fourth after serving a two-position penalty under UIM Rule 307.02. Hagin completed 15 laps but was excluded under UIM Rule 303.01 and received no points.
Hilmer Wiberg, running his first competitive UIM F2 race having done no testing beforehand, finished fifth in the points on 127. His sister Mathilda Wiberg retired after completing just one lap.
Heat 2
A collision between Dainis Podžuks and Jarno Vilmunen brought the heat to a halt, requiring a restart. Both drivers escaped without injury. Podžuks’ boat was found to be severely damaged and he did not take the restart, withdrawing from the remainder of the event. Vilmunen’s boat sustained minor damage alongside a few technical malfunctions but he was able to return for Heats 3 and 4.
In the restart, Lijcs led from first to last again. Riabko came through to second and Hilmer Wiberg to third. Hagin, who received a second two-position penalty of the weekend under Rule 307.02, was classified seventh and did not start Heats 3 or 4.
Heat 3
Lijcs took his third consecutive heat win, finishing 5.584 seconds ahead of Riabko, with Hilmer Wiberg third. Tino Lehto’s boat capsized mid-race; medical personnel attended promptly and transported him for a thorough health examination. He is recorded as ACC in the official results and scored no points. Benavente retired from the heat after six laps.
Heat 4
Lijcs did not start Heat 4, the title already secured. Riabko took his first heat win of the weekend, holding off Hilmer Wiberg by 1.188 seconds. Vilmunen finished third, Lindholm fourth, Munthe-Kaas fifth and Whittle sixth.
Final Standings
| Pos | No. | Driver | Country | H1 | H2 | H3 | H4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 71 | Nikita Lijcs | LAT | 400 | 400 | 400 | DNS | 1200 |
| 2 | 41 | Edgaras Riabko | LTU | 169 | 300 | 300 | 400 | 1169 |
| 3 | 70 | Hilmer Wiberg | SWE | 127 | 225 | 225 | 300 | 877 |
| 4 | 4 | Jarno Vilmunen | FIN | 300 | DNR | 127 | 225 | 652 |
| 5 | 53 | Alexander Lindholm | FIN | 53 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 560 |
| 6 | 77 | Tobias Munthe-Kaas | NOR | 95 | 127 | 95 | 127 | 444 |
| 7 | 30 | Sam Whittle | GBR | 30 | 40 | 71 | 95 | 236 |
| 8 | 15 | Dainis Podžuks | LAT | 225 | DNR | DNS | DNS | 225 |
| 9 | 45 | Duarte Benavente | POR | 71 | 95 | DNF | DNS | 166 |
| 10 | 25 | Tino Lehto | FIN | 40 | 53 | ACC | DNS | 93 |
| 11 | 19 | Stefan Hagin | GER | DSQ | 71 | DNS | DNS | 71 |
| 12 | 7 | Mathilda Wiberg | SWE | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 0 |
| 13 | 29 | Egidijus Dagilis | LTU | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 0 |
| 14 | 18 | Stefan Arand | EST | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 0 |
| 15 | 22 | Peter Žak | SVK | DNF | DNS | DNS | DNS | 0 |
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.
