1981 F1 Powerboat World Championship

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.[1]

1981 F1 Powerboat World Championship
Previous: none Next: 1982

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.[2] An additional non-championship invitational race, the British Grand Prix, was also held at Chasewater.

Series Formation

Teams and drivers
The Tecnocar Squadra Corse boats at the Grand Prix of Germany.
Lillo Columbo and Renato Molinari at the Grand Prix of Germany.
Team Hull Engine No. Race drivers Rounds
Velden Beneteau Racing Velden Johnson 3.0 V6 1 Cees van der Velden 1
Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6
Johnson 3.0 V6 8 Arthur Mostert 2–6
Gordon's Gin Velden Johnson 3.0 V6 9 Roger Jenkins 1
Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6
Johnson 3.0 V6 19 Rick Frost 3
Team John Player Special Velden Johnson 3.0 V6 10 Tom Percival 1
Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6
Johnson 3.0 V6 11 Bob Spalding 1
Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6
Johnson 3.0 V6 12 Francois Salabert All
Andy Bullen Velden Evinrude 3.0 V6 16 Andy Bullen 1–2
Tecnocar Squadra Corse Molinari Evinrude 3.0 V6 161 Lillo Colombo 1
Evinrude 3.5 V8 2–6
Evinrude 3.0 V6 165 Renato Molinari 1
Evinrude 3.5 V8 2–5
Hans Pelster Velden Evinrude 3.0 V6 Hans Pelster 1–5

Season calendar
Countries that hosted F1 Powerboat races in 1981, shown in green.
Round Race Title Date Circuit Location Race Winner Hull/Engine
1 1st Grand Prix of Italy 17 May Como Renato Molinari Molinari/Evinrude
2 1st Grand Prix of Germany 21 June Brodenbach Renato Molinari[1] Molinari/Evinrude
3 1st Grand Prix of Britain1 31 August Holme Pierrepont Renato Molinari[3] Molinari/Evinrude
4 1st Grand Prix of Norway Drammen Renato Molinari Molinari/Evinrude
5 1st Grand Prix of France Vichy Cees van der Velden Velden/Johnson
6 1st Grand Prix of the Netherlands Den Bosch Bob Spalding[4] Velden/Johnson
  • ^1 The British round of the championship was known as the John Player Grand Prix for sponsorship reasons.[5]

Non-championship events
Race Title Date Circuit Location Race Winner Hull/Engine
British Grand Prix 12 July Chasewater Cees van der Velden[6] 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 ITA
 GER
 GBR
 NOR
 FRA
 NED
 Points
1 Renato Molinari 1 1 1 1 2 42
2 Cees van der Velden 2 NC 2 5 1 3 27
3 Bob Spalding NC 3 3 2 3 1 27
4 Tom Percival 4 5 5 3 5 4 16
5 Roger Jenkins 5 NC 6 NC 4 2 12
6 Francois Salabert 3 2 NC NC 6 NC 11
7 Lillo Colombo 6 4 NC 4 NC 5 9
8 Arthur Mostert 6 4 NC NC 6 5
9 Hans Pelster NC NC NC 6 NC 1
10 Andy Bullen NC NC 0
11 Rick Frost NC 0
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd place
GreenOther points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
PurpleNot classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Text formatting Meaning
Bold Pole position
Italics Fastest lap


References
  1. "World Debut of V8" (PDF). Powerboat and Waterskiing. August 1981. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  2. "1981 John Player Special Formula 1 World Series Championship Table" (PDF). Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  3. Christopher Wright (October 1981). "A John Player's Special" (PDF). Powerboat and Waterskiing. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  4. "Racing Round-Up - Grande Finale" (PDF). Powerboat and Waterskiing. November 1981. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  5. "John Player Grand Prix Race Preview" (PDF). Powerboat and Waterskiing. September 1981. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  6. Bob Brister (August 1981). "The Boys Are Back In Town" (PDF). Waterskier and Powercraft. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
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