Class 1 - Oslo Norway Scandinavian Grand Prix

Jotun 90 capsizes in the first corner of the Scandinavian GP

Spirit of Norway wins Scandinavian GP

Spirit of Norway won the Scandinavian Grand Prix, round 3 of the WPPA World Powerboat Championship, and put their world title defence back on track, with Victory 77 the championship leader’s, finishing second ahead of Qatar 96. But it was the first corner of the start lap that produced a spectacular incident, with the all Norwegian crew of Jotun, Jorn Tandberg and Christian Zaborowski, crashing out after taking evasive action to avoid hitting Qatar 95. Both pilots emerged unscathed from the incident with the boat suffering some damage. For Gjelsten and Curtis a win was essential to keep them in the title race, with the Anglo-Norwegian pairing also looking to complete the double in Oslo, after winning Saturday’s Edox Pole Position. Spirit of Norway pushed from the flag and despite a poor start, eventually won the drag-race down the straight to lead into the first corner ahead of Victory 77 and Qatar 96. And with clear water in front of them, were able to gradually build a solid lead, going on to complete a comfortable flag-to-finish win. Second place for Victory 77 keeps them 15 points clear in the race for the world title and now makes them odds on favourites to clinch the European title at the next race in Constanta, Romania. The battle for top six places behind the leading trio was headed by Victory 7, with the new partnership of Nadir Bin Hendi and Talib Al Sayed, making his Class 1 race debut, producing their second very credible performance of the weekend, finishing fourth ahead of Qatar 95, who despite seeing some improvements in the boats performance this weekend, still lacked the pace needed to match the front runners. Behind Qatar 95, Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Nilsen enjoyed a second consecutive race-long battle with Foresti & Suardi but this time Spirit of Norway 20 young pairing won the battle to take their second top sixth finish of the season. But there was disappointment for VM Foresti & Suardi, heading the list of retirees, stopping on lap 11, with SeveneleveN going out on lap 7. More frustrations for Negotiator failing to make the start. Class 1 now heads to Constanta for the Romanian Grand Prix on Sunday, 2 September, where the European title will be decided, which, barring a disaster looks destined to go to Victory 77. But today’s win for Gjelsten and Curtis, posts notice to their rivals, that the defending World Champions, Spirit of Norway are back to their best and still very much in the hunt for the world title.

Race results

1. Spirit of Norway 10 – B Gjelsten (NOR)/S Curtis (GB) + 00.00,00

2. Victory 77 – A Al Zafeen(UAE)/JM Sanchez (FR) + 00.09,52

3. Qatar 96 – H Al Thani (QAT)/M Nicolini (ITA) + 01.04,29

4. Victory 7 – T Al Sayed (UAE)/N B Hendi (UAE) + 01.33,18

5. Qatar 95 – A Al Sulaiti (QAT)/L Nicolini (ITA) + 1 LAP

6. Spirit of Norway 20 – T Barry-Cotter (AUS)/P Nilsen (NOR) + 1 LAP

7. Foresti & Suardi 8 – M Pennesi (ITA)/G Montavoci (ITA) + 2 LAP

VM Foresti & Suardi 2 – D Cirilli (ESP)/K Olsen (NOR) – dnf

SeveneleveN 18 – T Polli (ITA)/N Giorgi (ITA) - dnf

Jotun 90 – C Zaborowski (NOR)/J Tandberg (NOR) - dnf

Negotiator 50 – B Eker (NOR)/C Parsonage (GB) – dnf

WPPA CLASS 1 WORLD POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP – after round 3 of 8

1. Victory 77 – A Al Zafeen(UAE)/JM Sanchez (FR) – 58pts

2. Qatar 96 – H Al Thani (QAT)/M Nicolini (ITA) – 43pts

3. Victory 7 – T Al Sayed (UAE)/N B Hendi (UAE) – 40pts

4. Spirit of Norway 10 – B Gjelsten (NOR)/S Curtis (GB) – 36pts

5. Qatar 95 – A Al Sulaiti (QAT)/L Nicolini (ITA) – 20pts

6. Foresti & Suardi 8 – M Pennesi (ITA)/G Montavoci (ITA) – 17pts

7. Spirit of Norway 20 – T Barry-Cotter (AUS)/P Nilsen (NOR) – 12pts

8. SeveneleveN 18 – T Polli (ITA)/N Giorgi (ITA) – 8pt

9= Negotiator 50 – B Eker (NOR)/C Parsonage (GB) – 4pts

9= VM Foresti & Suardi 2 – D Cirilli (ESP)/K Olsen (NOR) – 4pts

Jotun 90 – C Zaborowski (NOR)/J Tandberg (NOR) - 0pts

(championship points include bonus points allocated to teams running engines for two

consecutive races - one point, per engine, per race)

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