The Honda Formula 4-Stroke Series made waves in South Shields over the weekend
The Honda Formula 4-Stroke Series made waves in South Shields over the weekend as Tyneside played host for the third and fourth rounds of the championship. Titled the Tyneside Grand Prix, the two-day event was a huge success with more than 25,000 people witnessing powerboating at close quarters.
After Saturday’s thrilling action both 150hp and 225hp classes returned to the water on Sunday for two more showdowns. Following a seventh place finish the previous day, Honda Happiness driver, Rose Lores, was determined to make it on to the podium and did so in emphatic style, taking victory from the 2005 defending 150hp champion Claygate Bathrooms. As she crossed the finish line, Rose entered the Formula 4-Stroke history books by becoming the first female driver to win a 150hp race.
Lores commented: “We lost ground on the start run on Saturday so we were really focused on getting it right. I had my foot down hard and made it around turn one in first place. Once we were in clean water we just flew. It was fantastic to win after only my third race.”
The top three teams from Saturday’s race again demonstrated their exceptional competitiveness by all making it back up on to the podium on Sunday. Stopbox Lighting is now nine points clear at the top of the 225hp championship after some superb driving saw them take maximum points with two Tyneside Grand Prix wins.
Jack Glendinning, driver of Stopbox Lighting said: “Negotiator got a good start but we fought hard and ended up about two inches astern coming off our pit lap. We nailed them on the fifth lap going into turn one and was able to pull away in the clean water. It was a nice short course with great turns and we look forward to coming back next year. “
The Honda Formula 4-Stroke Series moves to Plymouth over the weekend of the 5-6 August for The Honda British Powerboat Grand Prix. The event will feature round five of the 2006 UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship, round three of the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Series, plus a number of supporting powerboat races.
Tyneside Grand Prix 2006 Provisional Race Results
Honda Formula 4-Stroke 150hp Series
Saturday – Round Three. 10 Laps
1. Claygate Bathrooms Nick Clemson / Paul Trow-Smith
2. Premier Cru Neil Crabb / Johnny Twelvetrees
3. Construction Racing Marcus Bradshaw / Paul Heslop
4. Alien Ian Bull / Rob Chambers
5. Ebel 1911 BTR Graham Foster-Vigors / Jason Yorke-Edgell
6. Fat Boy Racing Barry Roberts / Will Nocker
Honda Formula 4-Stroke 150hp Series
Sunday – Round Four. 14 Laps
1. Honda Happiness Rose Lores / Jason Cropper
2. Claygate Bathrooms Nick Clemson / Paul Trow-Smith
3. Premier Cru Neil Crabb / Johnny Twelvetrees
4. Construction Racing Marcus Bradshaw / Paul Heslop
5. X-Pole Clive Coote / Chris Hughes
6. Quality Job Tom Plant / James Plant
Points standings (after four of ten races) :
1. Claygate Bathrooms 41
2. Construction Racing 40
2. Ebel 1911 BTR 40
4. Delmar Flooring 32
5. Premier Cru 31
6. Honda Happiness 27
Honda Formula 4-Stroke 225hp Series
Saturday – Round Three. 13 Laps
1. Stopbox Lighting Jack Glendinning / Simon Bucknall
2. Team Raymarine Shelly Jory / Libby Keir
3. Negotiator Gavin Parsonage / Nathan Libby
4. Evans Heritage Developments Rhys Evans / Hadyn Evans
5. Don’t Panic! Phil Haynes / Miles Dobson
6. Fat Boy Racing Rob Lister / Will Nocker
Honda Formula 4-Stroke 225hp Series
Sunday – Round Four. 17 Laps
1. Stopbox Lighting Jack Glendinning / Simon Bucknall
2. Negotiator Gavin Parsonage / Nathan Libby
3. Team Raymarine Shelly Jory / Libby Keir
4. Evans Heritage Developments Rhys Evans / Hadyn Evans
5. Don’t Panic! Miles Dobson / Phil Haynes
6. Fat Boy Racing Rob Lister / Will Nocker
Points standings (after four of ten races):
1. Stopbox Lighting 54
2. Negotiator 45
3. Team Raymarine 39
4. Don’t Panic! 33
5. Evans Heritage Developments 33
6. Fat Boy Racing 26
