The Formula for family fun on the water

Chris and Abby Powell will race Hydraulink H8 with their father, Glen.

Fast boating that involves the whole family - that's the concept that has taken the Formula Honda Offshore Racing Championship from a standing start just over 12 months ago to the fastest growing class on the offshore racing calendar.

Some veterans have been lured back to racing by the new class. One of them is Glen Powell, who gave up racing after 30 years of competition because of the ever-tighter restrictions that he says took the fun out of the sport. Another concern was the increasing expense of top-level racing.

But now he's back into Formula Honda in Hydraulink Racing H8 with son Chris (30) and daughter Abby (24).

"In these boats it's not about having the most money, it's about doing it right throughout the season and having the sort of motorsport fun along the way that involves the whole family," says Powell.

"Both Chris and Abby navigated for me in the big classes and we had a lot of successes. Now we are looking to shake up the Formula Honda boats that did the business last season."

The close racing that was the hallmark of the 2005 championship is set to get even hotter this year.

H15, the newest Sonic 1900SS, is nearing completion and will be ready in time to chase the championship prize worth, about $10,000, and a trip for two to Britain to represent New Zealand in the championship final.

Series director Stuart Roberts says one of the aspects of the class that is helping lure veterans back into the sport and draw in newcomers is the Honda Marine five-year warranty, which applies even when racing - previously unheard of in motorsport.

The 2006 Formula Honda Championship will take in all eight venues of the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association Championship: Thunder on the Great Lake, in Taupo on January 29; Maraetai on February18; Wellington harbour on March 11; Napier on March 25; Whitianga on April 8; Rotorua on April 22; Auckland Harbour on May 6; and the Championship wrap-up in Tauranga on May 20.

Last year's winners, Greg and Daniel Brinck, back from turning the British Honda Formula 4-Stroke final, in Guernsey, upside down by taking back-to-back wins during their prize trip, will this year be racing a new white Sonic 1900SS, Konica Minolta H14.

Their championship-winning boat was recently sold and, as Team Altitude Bar and Nightclub H3, will be driven this season by Hamilton husband and wife team Jeff Weake and Jacqueline McGowan.

Having taken second place overall in the first championship, brothers Travis and Carl Thompson, will again start the new season driving Team Honda Marine H1, expecting tough racing ahead if they want to make sure of the title this year.

Wellington's Kelly Smith will again be at the helm of The Gambler H2, with co-driver Matthew Hopkins, after taking third spot last year.

Hibiscus Coast hard-chargers James Downs and Wendy Johansson, fifth overall in 2005, will be back in The Red Team H4.

Ericksen Honda H6 will be shared by Napier's Mark and Kim Ericksen with sons Hayden and Mathew.

Building Solutions H7 will be driven by Whangaparaoa's Thunder Cat racers Tony Coleman and Cameron Bradnock.

As well as the Powells, other well-known former competitors are coming out of retirement, including brothers Michael and Darrin Urquhart, who will be racing with Chris Bartlett in Light Industry H9.

Also drawn back by the lure of great competition at an affordable price is offshore racing veteran Mark Helms from Manurewa. He will race Miss Electropar H11 with his son Michael Knight.

Michael Smith in the red H10 with Christopher Hopkins navigating will be out to beat his sister Kelly and Christopher's brother Matt in The Gambler H2.

Havelock North's Grant and Cynthia Garrity are in Sonic 1900SS, All Shook Up H12.

With the continuing upsurge of interest 2006 is shaping up top be a great season for the new offshore class.

More information on www.formulahonda.co.nz.