Honda series to race in City of Culture
August 16-17 sees the Honda Formula 4-Stroke series in Liverpool for the sixth and seventh rounds of the 2008 championship.
Following the success of the 2007 final hosted by the City last September the series will make a welcome return having moved the calendar date to hit Liverpool on the eighth month of the City of Culture celebrations. The event is expected to attract up to 40 craft which will include local powerboat stars Team Williams racing for a second year in front of their home crowd.
The Williams Team welcome a new arrival to their entourage. An additional Honda 150hp outfit will make them one of only two double teams in the series. Scott Williams, team front man and driver of their 225hp entry said,
“Racing on home waters makes this all worthwhile. Everyone in the series is looking forward to the warm welcome Liverpool and being the year of Capital of Culture we are expecting record breaking number of spectators.”
Councillor Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council and deputy chair of the Liverpool Culture Company, said:
“The Honda series has been a great success in previous years and I’m delighted the fleet is returning to Liverpool for our European Capital of Culture celebrations”. “It’s a fantastic sight to see the boats racing against the backdrop of our World Heritage waterfront, and I’m sure that thousands of spectators will pack the banks of the Mersey to soak up the atmosphere over the weekend.”
The penultimate round in Liverpool will start to separate the men from the boys not to mention the girls from the women as this sport attracts both sexes.
The Honda race format remains popular for it’s close to the water’s edge action, and this is exactly what spectators can expect to see from Kings Parade. Craft will race alongside the banks of the River Mersey along a course designed to put the teams to the test and give crowds the action they have been waiting for.
Honda the title sponsor for the show will also make a huge presence over the weekend as they display a wide selection of their products from The Honda Dealership Display at Hartley Quay plus of course their marine engines powering the race.
Honda are nearing a ten year milestone as sponsors of the Formula 4-Stroke Series and have made success from doing so by becoming the market leader in Marine Technology.
“Liverpool is a fantastic venue for the racing giving our spectators some great viewing positions. We are all looking forward to a great weekend of exciting racing”, said Geoff Mathews General Manager Honda Power Equipment Honda (UK). Saturday’s race will start at 11am with the entire fleet of the 225hp taking to the water for a 30 minute battle followed at 1pm by the smaller 150hp boats who will endure the same thrilling fight in front of crowds.
On Sunday spectators will get even more action with twice the racing starting at 10:45am for the 150hp first final, then at 11:35am for the 225hp fist final. The afternoon will see the second finals at 1pm and 2pm respectively. The weekend rounds up at 3:30pm on the Sunday with a Podium Prize Giving Ceremony outside the ACC Liverpool Conference Centre presented by a mystery guest.
