Ramoska Secures F2 Long Lap Rule At UIM General Assembly
Karolis Ramoska successfully secured adoption of his F2 long lap proposal during the 98th UIM General Assembly in Shanghai, capping 10 days of intensive negotiations with federation leaders from more than 30 countries as the Lithuanian powerboat chief advances his youth development agenda.
The Lithuanian Motorboat Federation President, who also leads the Lithuanian Technical Sports Federation Association, saw his tactical innovation approved by the UIM Council alongside four other F2 rule changes taking effect from January 2026.
Long Lap Rule Adds Strategic Element
Ramoska’s proposal introducing mandatory long laps to Formula 2 racing gained unanimous support across three interconnected Council votes. The rule requires each racer to complete one extended lap during each heat, adding at least 200 metres to the circuit through additional buoys, but prohibits execution on the opening lap.
The tactical dimension mirrors similar regulations in other racing categories, forcing drivers to choose optimal moments for their long lap execution whilst managing competitive position. Lithuania’s proposal passed without modification as Circuit Rule 312.15, with complementary changes to flag signals and operational restrictions completing the package.
The Council rejected two other proposals covering penalties and championship structure, whilst withdrawing engine specification clarifications before voting.
Sharjah Nations Cup Format
The General Assembly confirmed Sharjah’s innovative team competition featuring four to five classes, with each national federation delegating one racer per category. Points accumulate across all classes, with the championship awarded to the nation achieving the highest combined total.
Ramoska will contribute to organising and filming the event, which represents a departure from traditional individual competition formats by emphasising national team performance and multi-class participation.
UAE Training Camp Development
The Lithuanian federation chief travels to the United Arab Emirates in November for meetings with leadership from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah to finalise details of winter and summer training camps serving Formula Future and GT10 classes.
The programmes, previously outlined to Powerboat.News, aim to attract over 100 young racers aged 5-19 from around the world. Participants pay only flight costs, with accommodation, equipment and coaching provided through the UIM partnership with Fujairah International Marine Club and Lithuanian organisers.
Ramoska identified youth development as his priority, stating the initiatives focus on children as “the future of us all”.
UIM Membership Expansion
Georgia, Nepal and China’s Macau territory gained full UIM membership during the Shanghai Assembly. Lithuanian trainers will support Nepal’s establishment of a Formula Future programme and coach development, extending Ramoska’s commitment to expanding the sport’s global reach.
The 99th UIM General Assembly returns to Europe in 2026, with the location to be confirmed.
John Moore has a longstanding involvement in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism. He organised the historic Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013 and was actively involved with British offshore racing from 2017 until 2025.
In 2017, Moore founded Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news, insights, and event coverage.
He is now Editor of Powerboat.News, continuing to contribute to the sport’s media landscape with in-depth reporting and analysis.
