The Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Series has announced its 2007 calendar
Entering its ninth season, the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Series has announced its 2007 Grand Prix calendar. As well as showcasing the 75th race since its inauguration, this year’s schedule again features five venues spread throughout the UK.
An exciting addition is the return of Torquay, where the class made its debut on 29 May, 1999. As first stop on the calendar, the weekend promises not only to be a celebration of the new season, but also marks the series 75th race.
Round two will take competitors back to Douglas Bay off the Isle of Man, which this year holds special significance; celebrating the 100th anniversary of its famous TT races, Honda’s sporting history is inexorably linked with the TT events of the late 1950s.
The new Lowestoft Grand Prix takes place in July and coincides with the hugely popular Lowestoft Seafront Air Show. With an official practice session planned for Friday during the Show, the HF4S fleet is set to entertain crowds of up to 250,000, which will be wowed by dazzling displays on the sea as well as in the sky for the first time.
Round four take the series to Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the spiritual home of UK offshore power boating. The championship decider once again will be staged on the River Mersey in Liverpool which has proved a popular season closer with crews since its introduction in 2005.
Since its inception the Honda Formula 4-Stroke series has been a runaway success and the original 1999 fleet of five boats has grown to a staggering 36 contenders across two classes.
Martin Sanders, General Manager, Honda (UK) Power Equipment, comments: “It’s incredible to look back over nine years and see how much we’ve achieved. We launched the series back in 1999 as a tool to prove the performance of our new 4-Stroke BF130hp outboard. The main objective was to bring the excitement of offshore powerboat racing within the reach of ordinary pleasure boaters. Now, entering its ninth year and making preparations to celebrate our 75th race, it’s clear the series is doing just that as we’re looking forward to a season that boasts more boats than ever before, increased crowds, and unprecedented broadcast coverage on ITV4 television. It’s a fantastic achievement and tangible proof that ‘The Power of Dreams’ is not just Honda’s philosophy – it’s also a reality.
The 2007 Honda Formula 4-Stroke 150hp and 225hp championships each consist of ten rounds staged at five Grand Prix venues around the UK.
The new season begins with the Torquay Grand Prix on 11/13 May. TV screening dates will be released at a later date.
2007 Honda Formula 4-Stroke Grand Prix Calendar
12-13 May, Torquay
16-17 June, Isle of Man
28-29 July, Lowestoft
25-26 August, Cowes, Isle of Wight
