F1H20 Nations Cup 2011 Singapore
H2O Racing rolled out twenty boats for the launch of its new international powerboat series, F1H2O Nations Cup, which took place on Singapore’s spectacular Marina Bay on the 18-20 November 2011.
F1H2O Nations Cup is seen as an affordable way for new teams and drivers to compete internationally, and also giving Nations the opportunity to introduce and develop up-and-coming talented young drivers.
Mr Laurence Wong racing in his Team Singapore Boat number 11
The inaugural event to launch the 2012 UIM F1H2O Nations Cup World Championship saw twenty-four drivers representing ten countries, with Brazil, Brunei, Finland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the host nation Singapore and the United Arab Emirates fielding two drivers, Hungary and Malaysia three and South Africa arriving in force with four.
Each National team was backed by its UIM sanctioned National Authority and ran two boats, with two to four drivers sharing practice, qualifying and racing responsibilities over a three day Grand Prix weekend. We are proud to have Mr Laurence Wong and Mr Larry Chua representing Team Singapore in Boat 11 and 12 respectively.
All drivers competed in identical stock boats powered by identical engines and propellers which were drawn for at the start of each race weekend, with the winner no longer being the strongest individual driver or achiever, but the Nation whose driver-combination amasses the most points – their best three results of four from the match race and race to count.
The boats are owned and managed by H2O Racing at their headquarters in Abu Dhabi and leased-out to teams.
The single-seater tunnel-hull catamarans are capable of breathtaking acceleration, high speeds and exceptional manoeuvrability. Each boat is approximately six metres in length, two metres wide, weighs 455kgs and powered by a 2.5litre, 225HP Mercury Optimax 200XS SST engine.
