1981 F1 Powerboat World Championship

F1 Powerboat World Championship 1981 none 1982 The 1981 John Player Special Formula 1 World Series was the inaugural season of Formula 1 Powerboat racing. Representing the 'OZ' racing class of the period, the championship was formed as a consequence of a difference of opinion between the leading figures in powerboat racing at the time, and was heavily supported by both John Player and engine manufacturer Outboard Marine Corporation, whose Johnson and Evinrude branded engines were used by the entire field. Whilst the series was designed to showcase the firm's huge 3.5 litre V8 engines, the very first race saw all boats using smaller V6 units and only six drivers would be given the V8 engines for the remainder of the year.World Debut of V8 https://api-powerboats.56degrees.co.uk//uploads/1981_OZ_CHAMPS_bd7006b22e.pdf Powerboat and Waterskiing August 1981 1 April 2025 Renato Molinari was the series' first ever champion, winning four of the five races he contested. In total, six races made up the 1981 world championship, beginning in Como, Italy and ending in Den Bosch, Netherlands.1981 John Player Special Formula 1 World Series Championship Table https://api-powerboats.56degrees.co.uk//uploads/1981_Championship_Tables_3a984079c6.pdf 1 April 2025 An additional non-championship invitational race, the British Grand Prix, was also held at Chasewater. Series Formation F1_Powerboat_World_Championship#History F1 Powerboat history Teams and drivers thumb|250px|The Tecnocar Squadra Corse boats at the Grand Prix of Germany. thumb|250px|Lillo Columbo and Renato Molinari at the Grand Prix of Germany. Team Hull Engine No. Boat number Race drivers Rounds NED Velden Beneteau Racing Velden Johnson 3.0 V6 1 NED Cees van der Velden 1 Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6 Johnson 3.0 V6 8 NED Arthur Mostert 2–6 GBR Gordon's Gin Velden Johnson 3.0 V6 9 GBR Roger Jenkins 1 Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6 Johnson 3.0 V6 19 GBR Rick Frost 3 GBR Team John Player Special Velden Johnson 3.0 V6 10 GBR Tom Percival 1 Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6 Johnson 3.0 V6 11 GBR Bob Spalding 1 Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6 Johnson 3.0 V6 12 FRA Francois Salabert All GBR Andy Bullen Velden Evinrude 3.0 V6 16 GBR Andy Bullen 1–2 ITA Tecnocar Squadra Corse Molinari Evinrude 3.0 V6 161 ITA Lillo Colombo 1 Evinrude 3.5 V8 2–6 Evinrude 3.0 V6 165 ITA Renato Molinari 1 Evinrude 3.5 V8 2–5 NED Hans Pelster Velden Evinrude 3.0 V6 NED Hans Pelster 1–5 Season calendar thumb|300px|Countries that hosted F1 Powerboat races in 1981, shown in green. Round Race title Date Circuit location Race winner Hull/Engine 1 ITA 1st Grand Prix of Italy 17 May Como ITA Renato Molinari Molinari/Evinrude 2 FRG 1st Grand Prix of Germany 21 June Brodenbach ITA Renato Molinari Molinari/Evinrude 3 GBR 1st Grand Prix of Britain1 1 31 August Holme Pierrepont ITA Renato MolinariA John Player's Special https://api-powerboats.56degrees.co.uk//uploads/1981_HOLME_PIERREPONT_6594b2dcec.pdf Christopher Wright Powerboat and Waterskiing October 1981 1 April 2025 Molinari/Evinrude 4 NOR 1st Grand Prix of Norway Drammen ITA Renato Molinari Molinari/Evinrude 5 FRA 1st Grand Prix of France Vichy NED Cees van der Velden Velden/Johnson 6 NED 1st Grand Prix of the Netherlands Den Bosch GBR Bob SpaldingRacing Round-Up - Grande Finale https://api-powerboats.56degrees.co.uk//uploads/1981_OE_CHAMPS_SPITHEAD_HERTOGENBOSCH_cc65b76980.pdf Powerboat and Waterskiing November 1981 1 April 2025 Velden/Johnson 1 1 The British round of the championship was known as the John Player Grand Prix for sponsorship reasons.John Player Grand Prix Race Preview https://api-powerboats.56degrees.co.uk//uploads/1981_HOLME_PIERREPONT_PREVIEW_2_1a5356c23a.pdf Powerboat and Waterskiing September 1981 18 January 2016 Non-championship events Race title Date Circuit location Race winner Hull/Engine GBR British Grand Prix 12 July Chasewater NED Cees van der VeldenThe Boys Are Back In Town https://api-powerboats.56degrees.co.uk//uploads/1981_CHASEWATER_3_7c3db8fb79.pdf Bob Brister Waterskier and Powercraft August 1981 18 January 2016 Velden/Johnson Results and standings Points were awarded to the top six finishers based on the aggregated results of between one and four heat races during the event. Any drivers below sixth place were not classified (NC). Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th  Points 9 6 4 3 2 1 Drivers standings Pos Driver ITAITA GERFRG GBRGBR NORNOR FRAFRA NEDNED Points 1 ITA Renato Molinari 1 1 1 1 2 42 2 NED Cees van der Velden 2 NC 2 5 1 3 27 3 GBR Bob Spalding NC 3 3 2 3 1 27 4 GBR Tom Percival 4 5 5 3 5 4 16 5 GBR Roger Jenkins 5 NC 6 NC 4 2 12 6 FRA Francois Salabert 3 2 NC NC 6 NC 11 7 ITA Lillo Colombo 6 4 NC 4 NC 5 9 8 NED Arthur Mostert 6 4 NC NC 6 5 9 NED Hans Pelster NC NC NC 6 NC 1 10 GBR Andy Bullen NC NC 0 11 GBR Rick Frost NC 0 References 30em External links The official website of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship The official website of the Union Internationale Motonautique F1 Powerboat World Championship Category:Formula 1 Powerboat seasons F1 Powerboat World Championship