The Union Internationale Motonautique has named Mathilda Wiberg of Sweden and Paul Richard Laur of Estonia as its 2025 Driver of the Year and Junior Driver of the Year.
Both winners were selected through a two-stage voting process combining public votes with UIM Council Member decisions.
Wiberg’s Championship Victory
Mathilda Wiberg became the first female driver to win the UIM Formula 2 World Championship in 2025, claiming the title at Vila Velha de Ródão, Portugal.
But the route to her Driver of the Year award came with family complications. The 22-year-old from Åkersberga finished 15 points clear of her younger brother Hilmer, who led the championship by five points entering the Portuguese finale before a technical retirement ended his title hopes.
The Swedish driver has competed in powerboat racing since 2016, building experience across offshore and circuit disciplines. Her competitive record includes the 2019 Offshore 3J World Championship, the 2021 F4 European Championship, third place at the 2022 F4 Worlds, and the 2023 S3 World Championship.
Following her F2 title, Smedjebacken municipality awarded her the prestationsmedalj achievement medal, recognising her achievement as the first female driver to claim the championship in its history.
Laur’s Junior Triple Crown
Paul Richard Laur secured two titles in GT15 Junior during 2025. The 16-year-old Estonian won the World Championship and Nordic Championship whilst taking silver at the European Championship.
At Östhammar, Sweden, Laur pushed Finland’s Toni Kade hard through the European Championship. The Finn dominated with three heat victories for 1,500 points, finishing 200 points clear, but Laur’s silver medal added to his World and Nordic titles demonstrated consistent performance across different tracks and conditions.
The GT15 World Championship took place at Aizkraukle, Latvia in May, with 14 pilots aged 12 to 16 competing on the Daugava River. Laur aims to progress through powerboat racing’s developmental pathway toward the UIM F1H2O World Championship.
The Competition
Wiberg faced six other senior nominees across five powerboat racing disciplines, including 10-time F1H2O World Champion Guido Cappellini, who won the Pavia-Venezia Raid in September, and Emma Kimiläinen, who secured back-to-back E1 World Championships with Team Brady.
Laur competed against three other junior nominees, including Czech MotoSurf athlete Eliška Matoušková, who claimed her third consecutive UIM MotoSurf World Championship from 2023 to 2025.
The awards recognise outstanding performance in international powerboat racing, with winners selected through a voting process combining public participation with decisions from the governing body’s Council Members.
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.
