Europe’s Top Aquabike Offshore Riders Gear Up for Puglia Showdown

The final countdown is on to the start of the UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro Offshore World Championship in the Italian coastal town of Torre Dell’Orso on Saturday and Sunday.

Twenty-three racers will compete in four physically and mentally demanding offshore Motos over the weekend in their bids for glory in the UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro Offshore Grand Prix of Puglia.

Comparato Upholds Italy’s Racing Heritage

Alberto Comparato heads to China next week to compete in the F1H2O Shanghai event with a spring in his step, as his partner, Mathilda Wiberg, won the UIM F2 World Championship last weekend in Portugal, where he was a key member of her team.

For the racer who resides in Chioggia, success in that class is not new – He was the youngest driver to set pole, win a race, and ultimately take the UIM F2 World Championship title at the age of 20.

UIM GT15 European Championship 2025: Östhammar Race Preview

The GT15 European Championship returns to Sweden’s historic Östhammar circuit this weekend, bringing together 16 drivers from across seven nations for what promises to be a tightly contested battle.

The venue, located 140 kilometres north of Stockholm, has deep roots in powerboat racing dating back to the 1950s and previously hosted the GT15 World Championship in 2020 which was won by Hilmer Wiberg.

Ieva Millere on Racing, Legacy, and E1 Dreams

Ieva Millere’s E1 racing journey is a testament to her family’s legacy in powerboat racing.

From her grandfather’s boat-building beginnings in 1962 to her own F1000 European Championship wins in 2018 and 2019, Ieva has carved her path in the sport.

LeBron James’ Team AlUla Signs Solvang for E1 Lagos

Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James has signed Andrè Solvang for the upcoming UIM E1 World Championship race in Lagos, Nigeria.

With their regular pilot Rusty Wyatt unable to compete in Lagos due to the forthcoming F1H2O Grand Prix of Shanghai taking place the same weekend, Solvang has been recruited by the E1 team and will line up alongside the Spanish BMW M Racing Academy driver Nerea Martí for the penultimate round of the 2025 E1 season.

Kelly and Tate Smash Records in San Diego

The 2025 H1 Unlimited season concluded in spectacular fashion at Mission Bay, San Diego, where fans witnessed not only the most exhilarating race of the season but also a record-breaking performance etched into hydroplane history.

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Estonia’s Standard-Bearer: Stefan Arand

From a 2012 rookie to F1H2O championship contender, Stefan Arand has systematically conquered every major powerboat racing category on his path to the top.

The 23-year-old Estonian isn’t just another talented driver making the jump to F1H2O – he’s a proven championship winner with titles across GT15, GT30, F4, and Offshore categories who now sits fourth in the 2025 F1H2O standings with the Sharjah Team.

Mette Charges from P13 to P7 in Portugal

Norwegian-born Mette Bjerknæs, now racing under a British license from her base in Cheltenham, England, delivered a standout performance at the 2025 UIM F2 World Championship Grand Prix of Portugal II in Vila Velha de Ródão.

Starting from a tough 13th on the grid, she battled through to finish seventh, pressuring British veteran Matt Palfreyman in the closing stages.

UIM F2 Final Standings

2025 UIM F2 World Championship Pos # Name Country Italy I Lithuania Portugal I Portugal II Points Brindisi Klaipėda Peso da Régua Vila Velha 🏆 1 7 Mathilda Wiberg SWE 2 20 12 20 54 2 70 Hilmer Wi…

The €1 Heartbreak: How a Blown Fuse Cost Peter Morin the World Championship

Peter Morin’s 2025 UIM F2 World Championship campaign ended not with a bang, but with the failure of a component that costs less than a cup of coffee, the veteran Frenchman’s title hopes were extinguished by a blown fuse.

Starting from pole position at Vila Velha de Ródão with a mathematical chance at the championship, Morin had executed the perfect weekend to that point.

History Made: Mathilda Wiberg Crowned First Female Formula World Champion

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.

Mathilda Quickest in Free Practice

Mathilda Wiberg sent a powerful message to her championship rivals by topping Sunday morning’s warm-up session at Vila Velha de Ródão, setting the fastest time of 50.

884 seconds as teams made their final preparations for this afternoon’s title-deciding UIM F2 World Championship finale.

Ferreira Confirms Portugal’s Continued UIM F2 Championship Role Through 2026

Portuguese Federation President reveals the massive logistical operation behind back-to-back championship rounds and announces gala dinner for Sunday’s finale Paulo Ferreira, President of the Portuguese Motorboat Federation (FPM), has become one of the most important figures in the UIM F2 World Championship, organising back-to-back rounds that have established Portugal as a cornerstone of the international racing calendar.

Speaking exclusively to Powerboat.

Ramoska’s Vision: Global Training Camps Set to Transform Formula Future Racing

Ambitious summer and winter training programmes could attract over 100 young drivers aged 5-19, with participants paying only flight costs Karolis Ramoska, the driving force behind Lithuanian powerboat racing as President of both the Lithuanian Motorboat Federation and the Lithuanian Technical Sports Federation Association, has outlined ambitious plans that could revolutionise youth development in Formula Future racing.

Speaking exclusively to Powerboat.

Coniston Powerboat Records Week 2025

As the leaves turn golden in the Lake District, excitement is building for one of the most exhilarating events in the powerboating calendar.

The 53rd annual Coniston Powerboat Records Week is set to roar into action from Monday, November 3rd to Friday, November 7th, 2025, on the stunning Coniston Water in Cumbria, UK.

Riabko’s Podium Streak at Vila Velha de Ródão

This weekend (September 19-21, 2025), the UIM F2 World Championship roars into Vila Velha de Ródão, Portugal, for the season finale on the Tagus River.

Edgaras Riabko, the Lithuanian star, holds the record for the most podiums here, with four consecutive top-three finishes (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024).

Munthe-Kaas Targets Top Six After Season of Struggles

Tobias Munthe-Kaas hasn’t had the best of seasons, but when he spoke to me under a hot Portuguese sun, the final race of the season could change his 2025 fortunes.

“I’m quite confident that we have done some changes that are making everything more driveable,” “In the last race we had some struggle with the power steering, we had some struggle with leakage inside the boat.

“No Team Orders” – Andreas Wiberg on His Children’s Title Battle

With Hilmer Wiberg leading his sister Mathilda by just five points heading into Sunday’s F2 World Championship finale at Vila Velha, their father Andreas faces the most unusual dilemma in powerboat racing history.

Powerboat News spoke to the man watching his son and daughter battle for the UIM F2 World Title We go into this weekend in the most unusual position for a father in offshore powerboat racing.

Puglia’s Coast Hosts Aquabike Offshore World Championship Next Weekend

The coastal town of Torre Dell’Orso, Italy will host the UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro Offshore Grand Prix of Puglia next weekend (September 26th-28th).

Organising by Aquabike Promotion and Hardwave, the event will be the stand-alone round of the exciting UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro Offshore World Championship for three Runabout class disciplines.

Rebuild mode: Lehto’s team at work today

Mette Bjerknæs has publicly accepted responsibility for the collision that ended Tino Lehto’s race at Peso da Régua.

The incident occurred on lap ten when Brandt Bjerknæs, the Norwegian-born driver racing under a British licence, made contact with Lehto’s boat entering a turn.

Slakteris: Viverone Victory

Latvia’s Nils Slakteris emerged victorious in the thrilling finale of the UIM F4 World Championship, held on the stunning Lake Viverone in northern Italy.