Powerboat spectacle returns to Barry Island (From Barry And District News)

Powerboat spectacle returns to Barry Island

12:10pm Friday 6th August 2010 in News

BARRY Island provided some of the best spills, flips and drama of the 2009 Zapcat Racing season and the powerboating spectacle’s return to South Wales has already proved popular with racers.

26 teams are confirmed for this weekend’s Barry Island Zapcat Grand Prix at Whitmore Bay Beach and, with more sign-ups anticipated, Martin Jupp, event director for Zapcat Racing, says he would be thrilled with a repeat of last year’s experience.

“It really will be a pleasure to return to Barry,” he explains. “Whitmore Bay delivers some unpredictable conditions and challenges for the Zapcat teams and I for one am looking forward to the racing, especially if it is as action packed, close and exciting as it was last year.

“Vale of Glamorgan Council pulled out all the stops for us then and they’ve been absolutely fantastic again.”

For those who are looking to join the Championships in 2011, Barry will also be the first venue to display the new ‘Zapcat Evo’ hull.

Continues Jupp: “Zapcat Racing is very easy to get into and remains one of the most affordable motor sports - under £10,000 for new race rig - in the UK.

“We’re proud of the atmosphere and camaraderie within the sport - when they’re not competing - our racers are incredibly supportive of each other.”

The success of last year’s event has made this Grand Prix a focal point of the 2010 season, with plenty of the jaw-dropping action coastal Zapcat Racing provides anticipated once again.

The second leg of Zapcat Racing’s ‘Welsh Tour’, which follows hot on the heels of rounds seven and eight of the National Championship in Prestatyn, will also see teams compete for points towards the towards the Team, Services, Mixed, Rookie and Celtic Cup categories.

2009 Champions Bluesheets Racing I top the board going into the weekend as their rivalry with BladeRun becomes more intriguing by the meeting.

Welsh interest comes from Nine Lives (Boat #35) and Westgate Buildings (Relentless I - Boat #28) for who Ed Morris will be making one of the longest trips of any Zapcat racer in this, or any other season – from Qatar – to join forces with Brother Charles.

“It just goes to show the commitment our racers have to the sport,” Jupp comments. “The best ambassadors for Zapcat Racing are our teams.”

The action starts at 12 noon on each day of Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8, with the best views of the action available from Whitmore Bay Beach, the promenade and the gardens.