Formula 4S Powerboat World Championship

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Traben-Trarbach F-4s start

The Formula-4s Powerboat World Championship is an international inshore powerboat racing competition for powerboats organised by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), hence it often being referred to as F4s. “S” letter refers to abbreviation from four-stroke, which means that four-stroke boat engines are being used in this class.

History[]

This class was designed as an ecological alternative to UIMS750, UIMS550, UIM F4 and UIM F3 classes. Before getting World Championship status this class was called SL-60. First races were held in Scandinavia in 2005. In year 2009 this class was chosen as a base for ADAC Masters[1] international series conducted in Germany. In year 2010 class was given current name F-4s and European Championship status. In year 2011 was launched promotional series F-4s conducted together with F1H2O events. In the year 2013 was organized first World Championship in Formula-4s class.

Evolution and international series[]

Brodenbach F-4s start

For the present moment class F-4s has most dynamic evolution in a powerboat races. Stages of championships are conducted in various countries, such as Hungary, Latvia, Finland, France, Great Brittan, Germany, Sweden, Italy. Besides World and European Championships, prestigious international series are conducted such as ADAC Masters, Germany and promotional F-4s series to support F1H2O. In 2014 over 50 pilots participated in international series. And it is not able to count the number of national series pilots. Also a large number of open international events are conducted in different counties such as USA, China, United Arabian Emirates, Baltic and Scandinavian and many other countries. It need to emphasize promotional F-4s series, which was funded to create a reserve of young pilots and give them opportunity to learn circuits of F1H2O. Races are conducted together with Royal Races at same weekend. This popularity can be explained with several reasons. One is a good safety. Boats of F-4s are equipped with safety cockpits taken from elder classes F1H2O and F2H2O. Currently, no fatalities or serious injuries among pilots of this class have been recorded. Also it need to emphasize affordable price of enter to this class and low costs comparing to other Formula classes – F1, F2, F500. However performance rates of assembling and tuning-up are close to elder classes. Several weeks of serious job needed to be done by highly skilled mechanics. Normally this kind of work is done by shipyards or racing clubs with proper equipment. Finally, one of the main reasons pilots participate it these races is because this class is a shortest way to Royal Races. F-4s one of few classes which gives right to apply for super-license after having some experience (eight races according to UIM rules). F-4s boats have same steering as an elder classes, corrected to speed. F-4s is a best practice for pilots. It was proven by tests of young pilots in F1 and F2 classes.

Boats[]

Molgaard F-4s Gen3
Molgaard F-4s Gen3

Boats in F-4s class is a tunnel catamaran. Construction technologies are same to elder classes. Newest technology and modern materials, such as carbon, kevlar, nomex, new types of polymer resin are used to construct boats. Costs of materials and manpower are high, same as in other Formula classes. That is because of high performance is need and high safety. Modern F-4s boats, like older classes, are equipped with 3000N/sm2 safety cockpits.

Many companies and private boat builders in Europe, USA, and China produce boats of this class. Leading companies are BABA Racing (Italy), ASV (Hungary), [https://web.archive.org/web/20141028075654/http://www.molgaard-racing.com/f4-gen-2/ Molgaard Racing (Denmark) and in the lead is Lönnberg (Finland)

Engines[]

According to UIM rules, four-stroke Mercury 60 EFI Racing is being used as only possible engine for this class. With a modern trends, this engine has low emission and follows most strict ecological regulations. Same time this engine has a high-performance, because of low center of gravity given consequent to sport type of midsection and suspension.

Engine data:
Power: 60Ps

Volume: 995 cm3

Number of cylinders: 4

Weight: 118 kg

The boats are fast and easy to drive, best catamaran class to start in. no need of tinkering with the engines, as in the SST-45 and 60 classes in the US, that uses technology from the 1970s.

Format[]

Stages of World and European championships is being conducted on circuits homologated by UIM. Number of boats in a heat should not exceed number of boats in homologation of race course. Participants of main heats are selected by qualification. Maximum straight is 600m. Races running anticlockwise. There are a minimum of two heats and generally there are three or four. Pilots are scored for each heat according to UIM rules. Winner is defined by sum of points.

Champions[]

World champions:

Season Champion Runner up Second runner up
2020 Finland LINDHOLM, Alexander Finland WECKSTRÖM, Alec Finland VIRTANEN, Roope
2019 Finland LEHTONEN, Tuukka Latvia LIJCS, Nikita Finland LINDHOLM, Alexander
2018 Sweden JERNFAST, Morgan Latvia LIJCS, Nikita Finland LEHTONEN, Tuukka
2017 Finland MANNINEN, Juho-Matti Latvia LIJCS, Nikita Finland VIIPPO, Kalle
2016 Finland MANNINEN, Juho-Matti Latvia LIJCS, Nikita Finland VIIPPO, Kalle
2015 Italy COMPARATO, Alberto Finland LINDSTRÖM, Risto Finland NYHOLM, Anton
2014 Italy COMPARATO, Alberto Latvia LIJCS, Nikita Poland MANIEWSKI, Adrian
2013 Hungary TABORI, Aron Poland MANIEWSKI, Adrian Lithuania RIABKO, Edgars
2012 Sweden SÖDERLING, Tobias Poland MANIEWSKI, Adrian Lithuania RIABKO, Edgars
2011 Latvia MOROZS, Mārtiņš Sweden SAMUELSSON, Oskar Poland MANIEWSKI, Adrian
2010 Sweden SPARRING, Daniel Poland PRZYBYL, Ada Germany SCHELLER, Alexander
2009 Germany HAGIN, Stefan Sweden SAMUELSSON, Oskar Germany GIMPL, Norbert
2008 Sweden SPARRING, Daniel Sweden SAMUELSSON, Oskar Germany GIMPL, Norbert


Formula 1 F4-s World Series:

Season Winner Runner up Second runner up
2020 No championship held
2019 Germany STILZ, Max United Kingdom SMITH, Harvey United Arab Emirates AL MEHAIRBI, Mohammed
2018 France CHIAPPE, Tom Germany STILZ, Max United Kingdom WHITTLE, Sam
2017 United Arab Emirates AL MANSOORI, Mansoor France BRISSET, Jeremy United Arab Emirates AL MEHAIRBI, Mohammed
2016 United Arab Emirates AL QAMZI, Rashed Netherlands ZANDBERGEN, Ferdinand France BRISSET, Jeremy
2015 Germany SZYMURA, Mike Finland NYHOLM, Anton Norway HALVORSEN, Joakim
2014 Germany SZYMURA, Mike Australia BRINEY, Rigby Qatar AL KUWARI, Khalid
2013 Germany SZYMURA, Mike Sweden FRIBERG, Nicklas China WU, Bincheng
2012 Sweden FORSS, Jesper United Kingdom PALFREYMAN, Matthew Norway MUNTHE-KAAS, Tobias
2011 United Kingdom PALFREYMAN, Matthew Sweden SJÖHOLM, Bimba Qatar AL SHAMLAN, Khalid
2010 Sweden SAMUELSSON, Oskar Finland ROMS, Filip Germany HAGIN, Stefan


European champions:

Season Champion Runner up Second runner up
2020 No championship held
2019 Finland LEHTONEN, Tuukka Hungary TABORI, Aron Hungary HORWARTH, Attila
2018 Sweden JERNFAST, Morgan Finland LEHTONEN, Tuukka United Kingdom JELF, Ben
2017 France REVERT, Rudy Finland MANNINEN, Juho-Matti United Kingdom JELF, Ben
2016 Finland MANNINEN, Juho-Matti Finland SEDERHOLM, Magnus United Kingdom MORSE, Ben
2015 Finland MANNINEN, Juho-Matti Finland SEDERHOLM, Magnus Latvia LIJCS, Nikita
2014 Italy COMPARATO, Alberto Latvia LIJCS, Nikita Poland MANIEWSKI, Adrian
2013 Finland MARTIN, Olle Hungary TABORI, Aron Poland MANIEWSKI, Adrian
2012 Sweden SÖDERLING, Tobias Germany SAUERSSING, Manuel Lithuania RIABKO, Edgars
2011 Germany SAUERSSING, Manuel Latvia MOROZS, Mārtiņš Poland MANIEWSKI, Adrian
2010 Germany HAGIN, Stefan Poland MANIEWSKI, Adrian Latvia MOROZS, Mārtiņš

References[]

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