A flying final lap was not quite enough to put Spirit of Norway at the top of the podium in this afternoon’s Time Trial, although Gjeltsen and Curtis came within a fifth of a second of toppling Saeed Al Tayer’s dominant Victory 7.
Heatwave conditions continued in Plymouth Sound in the run-up to tomorrow’s British Powerboat Grand Prix. After a hectic morning of testing both in the pits and on the water all 11 Class 1 raceboats made it to the start line for the three-lap competition on a 2.6-mile inshore course. As both a warm-up for the teams and a spectacle for the crowds packing the famous Hoe, the Time Trial is a crucial indicator of form for tomorrow’s main event.
Spirit of Norway split the two Emirates craft with an aggressive final lap after a return to the pits for propeller adjustments. Conversely both Victory 7 and third-placed Victory 1 posted slower times after their pit stops as the tight turns of the short course robbed the Lamborghini V12s of crucial revs.
Less than a second and a half separated the best times of the top three boats, but close behind them Andreas Ugland’s Jotun and Eric Kirkedelen’s Jolly Motor also looked strong. The distinctive yellow Damas, throttled by Vincenzo Polli, was a solid sixth after yesterday’s experiments with new gearbox ratios.
Tomorrow’s forecast is for hot and flat conditions. The race starts off the Hoe at 1330.
British Powerboat Grand Prix, Plymouth
Time Trial, Saturday 28 July 2001
Results
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