Estonian driver Stefan Arand delivered a breakthrough performance at the Road to Sharjah–Grand Prix of Sharjah, claiming his maiden UIM F1H2O World Championship victory on only his ninth Grand Prix start.
The 23-year-old from Tallinn dominated the championship-deciding race on Khalid Lagoon, leading home Sharjah Team-mate Rusty Wyatt in a 1-3 finish for the UAE-based squad whilst securing fourth place in the final drivers’ standings with 83 points.
Arand’s victory marks a watershed moment in Estonian motorsport history and caps a remarkable rise through powerboat racing’s junior categories to F1H2O’s top step.
Championship pedigree
Arand’s path to F1H2O glory has been built on systematic championship success across multiple categories. Back-to-back GT15 World and European Championships in 2014-2015 announced his arrival, followed by three consecutive UIM Junior Driver of the Year awards from 2016-2018.
Additional world titles in both GT15 and GT30 categories in 2017-2018 demonstrated his versatility, whilst the 2019 Offshore 3J World Championship proved his ability beyond circuit racing. The 2022 F4 World Championship victory served as his calling card for F1H2O competition.
Sharjah breakthrough
Starting from eighth on the grid after qualifying, Arand showed impressive racecraft to move forward through the field. When championship leader Shaun Torrente retired with engine failure on lap 15, Arand capitalised by passing defending champion Jonas Andersson to take the lead on lap 18.
The Estonian then withstood pressure from Team Sweden’s Grant Trask through the closing laps, managing his pace expertly to cross the line 12.594 seconds ahead after 40 laps of intense racing.
Arand said:
No words. That definitely wasn’t on my bingo cards for today but I couldn’t be happier, obviously. It’s an extreme honour to win in front of the home crowd and to make everybody proud. I feel like this was coming for the entire season. We were here with the pace in Shanghai and then we had an unfortunate engine change. It’s an amazing feeling to end the year on such a high.
Race management
The victory showcased Arand’s maturity as he adapted his strategy mid-race:
When that yellow (flag) came out, I said to myself ‘I want this’ and I ended up getting it. I knew Rusty was behind me and I backed off a little to save it to the end and then I heard that Grant was behind me. I pumped up the pace again and kept up that gap to the finish.
Sharjah Team’s perfect weekend
He told me before the event that preparations had been difficult, at the end of the weekend the victory provided Sharjah Team with a triumphant conclusion to their 2025 campaign. Team-mate Wyatt finished third in both the race and the championship, giving the Scott Gillman-managed squad a 1-3 finish in Sharjah and cementing their position as one of F1H2O’s rising forces.
The four-time world champion team manager has proven the perfect mentor for developing championship-calibre drivers, having achieved 55 podiums from just 92 starts during his own racing career.
Estonian motorsport milestone
As the first Estonian to compete at F1H2O level, Arand’s maiden victory represents a historic achievement for his nation. His systematic progression through powerboat racing’s ranks demonstrates the pathway from junior championships to F1H2O success.
The 2023 UIM F2 World Championship bronze medal behind Rashed Al-Qemzi and Edgaras Riabko provided the foundation for his F1H2O debut in 2024 with Team Bình Định-Vietnam alongside defending champion Andersson.
Looking ahead
Arand confirmed he will continue with Sharjah Team for the 2026 season, building on a campaign that saw him finish fourth in the championship with 83 points, just three points behind third-placed Wyatt.
With his first victory secured and a proven ability to compete at the front of the field, the Estonian enters the 2026 season as a genuine championship contender.
His breakthrough performance in Sharjah suggests Estonia’s standard-bearer is ready to join powerboat racing’s elite.
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.
