PICTURE EDDIE WHITHAM
A WARRINGTON man earned a place on the winner’s podium when the 2015 Powerboat GP British Championship got underway in style at the Lancashire GP at Carr Mill Dam in St Helens.
But he benefited when the runaway race leader was forced to drop out because of engine problems.
Thirty Powerboat teams from all over the UK headed to the Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club for the start of the British campaign, battling it out across five classes of boat.
In the T850 class it looked to be Chequered Flag racing team’s Matt Wood, 25, from Manchester, who was set to take the first honours.
On the first day of racing he secured pole position and stormed the first heat from start to finish.
The second heat once more saw Matt take an early lead and set to clinch victory, when two laps from the end, engine problems forced him to retire resulting in Warrington’s Dave James, from the ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ racing team securing the win.
Despite every effort from Matt, in the third heat Dave got the best start and held the youngster off to take the Lancashire GP title.
Pictures: Dave James powers to victory…and holds the trophy aloft.
