Circuit powerboat racing was introduced in Italy in the early 1980’s and in those days safety was not a priority. Back then the catamarans were constructed in thin plywood and the driver sat in an exposed cockpit at the very front of the craft. Power came from a heavyweight 4 litre V8 outboard engine making it a very ‘lethal weapon’ indeed. At almost every race meeting throughout the 80’s tragedy was never far away and the sport lost many drivers from serious accidents.

Nowadays the UIM F2 World Championship has become considerably more safety conscious. The latest generation of racing machines feature driver cockpits constructed of high impact resistant composite material designed in a way to deflect other craft in the event of a collision. The 4 litre V8 outboards have been replaced by the latest generation of Mercury Racing 2.5 Litre OptiMax 200 XS engines. These ‘stock’ racing engines are strictly controlled by UIM Technical Commissioners at each race venue making the class both affordable and low maintenance. Whilst the power’s been reduced it’s had little effect on the speed and although the sport is still fraught with danger, the drivers now have an infinitely better chance of escaping injury in the event of an incident.

Today through the use of the internet and various social media networks fans from around the world can follow each UIM F2 Grand Prix through the internet making it a truly global sporting event