Barry Island Zapcat Grand Prix this weekend marks the turning point of the season and Zapcat's own Alonso, Button & Hamilton will be looking to put the pressure on our version of Vettel - Craig Davis & Rob Martin in Bluesheets I.
Craig and Robbie are heading for a record equalling hat trick of National Zapcat Championship titles and will readily admit that with the new points system and weight classes as well as an increased determination by other teams that they are not guaranteed that win or any automatic GP s either.
In the ZCR50 class they lead but with 115 points covering the top three
Bluesheets I 580, Team Suffolk 490, Angry Hornet 465
Things are even closer in the ZCR50X class with a 70 point spread between
Exe Jets 555, Team Essence 495, Live Wire 485
As for the Celtic Cup which Barry forms rounds 5 & 6 of 8 in total 100 points separates the top 9 teams so there really is a lot to play for this weekend.
LATE TEAM NEWS
Justin Whithorn (2nd last year in BladeRun) is standing in for Daren Ford of Speedy Hire & Jack Weller - Rookie Champion will be returning in Trademymotor.
Pilot interview with Daren Ford # 38 Speedy Hire
Daren – thank you for joining us today it must be difficult with the upcoming Barry Island GP knowing that you will just be a spectator, tell us what happened in the Round 5 final at Edinburgh?
We got caught up with #25 (Angry Hornet) and #73 (Bluesheets II) and came out with 7ft rip in the side of our boat and a dinked collarbone, no one’s fault that’s racing even worse #25 is my team mate.
I know you don’t try and make a habit of these things but you always seem to have at least one fairly spectacular racing incident each season along with a handful of spills and flips – when you are on the beach at Barry in a couple of weeks do you think you will relive in your mind how you felt last year with Sam?
For the third year in a row thanks to Vale of Glamorgan Council, Barry Island will host its own powerboat Grand Prix.
Over the last two year thousands of people have followed the close up action in Whitmore Bay from the beach and promenade over the weekends at this free to view event.
Competitors, supporters, residents and visitors of all ages from across the UK have turned out to this very exciting motorsport event.
“Whitmore Bay is a great venue for Zapcat Racing and support for the event here has grown over the last couple of years, the people of Barry and visitors from across the country have shown a great interest in the racing and have been rewarded with plenty of high-speed action, home winners and spectacular thrills and spills, particularly last year!” said Martin Jupp, Event Director ZCR Ltd (Zapcat Racing).
The Barry Island Zapcat GP is a two day event taking place on Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th August with racing from midday and practice starting at 11:00.
Each daily round consists of up to 16 heat races and a couple of finals followed by a prize giving presentation.
Ocean Terminal, Leith Docks, Edinburgh - home to Britannia and host to the only Scottish and City Championship venue this year.
Fantastic warm sunshine welcomed the teams, the majority having travelled up from the south coast of England facing the prospect of a tight, technical and tactical course in front of a large number of spectators keen to see lots of high speed Zapcat action on the flat water.
Friday "press day" saw STV Scotland Today reporter Liz Monaghan try a Zapcat for the first time and the footage broadcast on the evening news adding to the pre event publicity.