Jeddah: The Jeddah Grand Prix of the F1H2O World Powerboat Championship witnessed an exciting escalation in competition today on the second day of the championship, which is being held for the first time in the city of Jeddah as part of the fourth round of the World Championship. The event drew a large crowd, with the designated fan and entertainment zones at the Obhur Waterfront filled with spectators. The championship activities continued amid strong public attendance and great interaction from visitors to the entertainment areas, which provided a comprehensive experience for marine sports enthusiasts. The day featured qualifying rounds, a series of official practice sessions, a demonstration run, and the first and second sprint races, all marked by fierce competition among the world’s top drivers.
Today’s results confirmed the intensity of the rivalry among the leading international drivers. Sean Torrente of the Victory Team UAE secured first place in the first sprint race after completing 20 laps and recording the fastest time of the round. Peter Morin of the China CTIC Team finished second with a narrow time gap of just 0.04 seconds, followed by Bartek Marszalek of Stromoy Racing in third place. Emirati driver Rasti White continued his strong presence by finishing fourth, while Finland’s Sami Seliö came in fifth. The qualifying sessions were full of excitement as competitors battled head-to-head for advanced starting positions. The results of both Sprint Race 1 and Sprint Race 2 revealed a very close level of competition, further heightening anticipation ahead of the main race tomorrow.
In the second sprint race, Sweden’s Jonas Andersson of Team Sweden claimed first place after delivering a consistent and decisive performance over 20 laps. Emirati driver Stefan Arand of Team Sharjah finished second, just 0.02 seconds behind, while Germany’s Stefan Hagg of the China CTIC Team took third place, 0.25 seconds behind the leader. The race saw a one-lap penalty imposed on boat number 3 for destroying the first buoy, along with a two-position penalty for boat number 97 for failing to follow the designated course during the first lap, in accordance with the official regulations.
The championship continues until tomorrow, when the event will conclude with the main race and the awards ceremony, before the international convoy moves on to the Emirate of Sharjah as part of the 2025 season calendar to continue the next stage of the F1H2O World Powerboat.
