Poppy Stewart secured a third consecutive GT15 British Championship title at Stewartby with a masterclass performance that saw the 14-year-old claim three victories from four heats across the weekend.
The Lowestoft driver’s commanding display extended her championship advantage to 17 points over Tate Mantripp, with Zachary Jelf maintaining his challenge in third place just one point further back after claiming pole and Saturday’s opening heat.
Stewart’s triple triumph crowns a dominant season for the British and World GT15 speed record holder, who will now step up to the GT30 class for 2026 having comprehensively defended her title.
Jelf Draws First Blood
The SWSC driver served notice of his intent in Saturday’s opening heat, producing a flawless performance in overcast conditions to finish 7.17 seconds clear of Stewart. Jelf’s winning time of 6:08.05 included the fastest lap at 1:00.16, underlining the pace advantage he held throughout the five-lap contest.
Mantripp secured third place, finishing 10.91 seconds behind the leader, whilst Riley Hudson claimed fourth for LOBMBC. Millie-Rose Bowman completed the top five ahead of debutant Jack Roberts, who finished over a minute adrift on his British Championship debut.
Stewart Strikes Back
The champion hit back emphatically in Saturday’s second heat, reversing the result to defeat Jelf by 2.52 seconds. Officials applied penalties under CPA Rule E19.5, docking both Roberts and Bowman one lap for infringements.
Stewart’s winning time of 6:11.84 came despite Jelf setting the fastest lap at 1:00.67, with Mantripp again claiming the final podium position some 12.95 seconds behind the victor. Hudson maintained his consistent run with fourth place, whilst the penalised Bowman and Roberts completed only four laps to finish fifth and sixth respectively.
Sunday Domination
Stewart stamped her authority on proceedings with back-to-back victories on Sunday morning in cloudy conditions at the Bedford venue. Heat 3 produced the closest finish of the weekend, with just 1.58 seconds separating Stewart from Jelf after five laps.
The champion also claimed the fastest lap at 1:01.33, demonstrating the consistency that has characterised her title-winning campaign. Mantripp maintained his stranglehold on third position, finishing over seven seconds clear of Hudson, whilst Bowman took fifth ahead of Roberts.
The final heat followed an identical pattern, with Stewart completing her hat-trick by defeating Jelf by 1.36 seconds. Mantripp secured his fourth consecutive podium finish, with Hudson again fourth and Bowman fifth. Roberts finished a lap down in sixth position, whilst Jelf recorded the fastest lap at 1:01.08.
Championship Decided
The battle for runner-up honours intensified throughout the weekend, with Mantripp’s consistency proving crucial. The 11-year-old’s four podium finishes moved him one point clear of Jelf, who saw his opening heat victory prove insufficient to overhaul his rival.
Bowman occupies fourth in the final standings on 41 points, just two points behind Jelf, whilst Hudson completes the top five with 39 points. Roberts claimed 10 championship points on his debut weekend.
Heat 1 Result
Pos |
No |
Driver |
Club |
Laps |
Time |
Gap |
Fastest Lap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
71 |
Zachary Jelf |
SWSC |
5 |
6:08.05 |
— |
1:00.16 |
2 |
88 |
Poppy Stewart |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:15.22 |
+7.17 |
1:00.22 |
3 |
23 |
Tate Mantripp |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:18.95 |
+10.91 |
1:01.24 |
4 |
21 |
Riley Hudson |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:32.36 |
+24.31 |
1:02.50 |
5 |
37 |
Millie-Rose Bowman |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:34.73 |
+26.69 |
1:03.19 |
6 |
8 |
Jack Roberts |
LOBMBC |
5 |
7:16.94 |
+1:08.89 |
1:11.06 |
Heat 2 Result (Re-Issued)
Pos |
No |
Driver |
Club |
Laps |
Time |
Gap |
Fastest Lap |
Champ Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
88 |
Poppy Stewart |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:11.84 |
— |
1:00.70 |
400 |
2 |
71 |
Zachary Jelf |
SWSC |
5 |
6:14.36 |
+2.52 |
1:00.67 |
360 |
3 |
23 |
Tate Mantripp |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:24.80 |
+12.95 |
1:01.20 |
324 |
4 |
21 |
Riley Hudson |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:35.06 |
+23.22 |
1:02.69 |
292 |
5 |
37 |
Millie-Rose Bowman |
LOBMBC |
4 |
6:38.05 |
1L – 26s |
1:03.81 |
262 |
6 |
8 |
Jack Roberts |
LOBMBC |
4 |
7:19.41 |
1L – 68s |
1:10.95 |
236 |
Note: Boats 8 & 37 docked 1 lap – CPA Rule E19.5
Heat 3 Result
Pos |
No |
Driver |
Club |
Laps |
Time |
Gap |
Fastest Lap |
Champ Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
88 |
Poppy Stewart |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:12.31 |
— |
1:01.33 |
400 |
2 |
71 |
Zachary Jelf |
SWSC |
5 |
6:13.89 |
+1.58 |
1:01.39 |
360 |
3 |
23 |
Tate Mantripp |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:21.67 |
+9.36 |
1:02.50 |
324 |
4 |
21 |
Riley Hudson |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:32.28 |
+19.97 |
1:03.31 |
292 |
5 |
37 |
Millie-Rose Bowman |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:45.41 |
+33.09 |
1:05.53 |
262 |
6 |
8 |
Jack Roberts |
LOBMBC |
4 |
6:24.14 |
1L – 12s |
1:11.06 |
236 |
Heat 4 Result
Pos |
No |
Driver |
Club |
Laps |
Time |
Gap |
Fastest Lap |
Champ Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
88 |
Poppy Stewart |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:13.61 |
— |
1:01.11 |
400 |
2 |
71 |
Zachary Jelf |
SWSC |
5 |
6:14.97 |
+1.36 |
1:01.08 |
360 |
3 |
23 |
Tate Mantripp |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:26.23 |
+12.62 |
1:01.95 |
324 |
4 |
21 |
Riley Hudson |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:33.98 |
+20.38 |
1:03.76 |
292 |
5 |
37 |
Millie-Rose Bowman |
LOBMBC |
5 |
6:58.56 |
+44.95 |
1:08.62 |
262 |
6 |
8 |
Jack Roberts |
LOBMBC |
5 |
7:15.69 |
+1:02.08 |
1:10.77 |
236 |
Final Championship Standings
Pos |
No |
Driver |
Club |
POLE |
LOBMBC |
POLE |
LPRC |
POLE |
SPHRC |
Championship Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
88 |
Poppy Stewart |
LOBMBC |
1 |
20 |
1 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
62 |
2 |
23 |
Tate Mantripp |
LOBMBC |
0 |
13 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
15 |
45 |
3 |
71 |
Zachary Jelf |
SWSC |
0 |
11 |
0 |
15 |
1 |
17 |
44 |
4 |
37 |
Millie-Rose Bowman |
LOBMBC |
0 |
17 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
11 |
41 |
5 |
21 |
Riley Hudson |
LOBMBC |
0 |
15 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
13 |
39 |
6 |
8 |
Jack Roberts |
LOBMBC |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
10 |
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.
