Ben’s battle to retain European title begins
Britain’s youngest ever World Powerboat Racing Champion Ben Jelf (12, Maidstone) this weekend heads to Tallinn in Estonia in a bid to retain his 2011 UIM European GT15 Title.
Ben who in 2011 became Britain’s youngest ever World Powerboat Racing Champion just two days after his 11th Birthday also secured UIM GT15 European Championship, British RYA JT250 National and Sprint Championships, S250 British Speed Record and GT15 World and British Speed Records in a phenomenal year of achievements for the youngster.
The long journey to retaining his title began on Tuesday when along with his Dad (former 3 times World F2 Powerboat Champion) Colin and Uncle Kelvin they set off on the 1600 mile journey to Estonia to arrive in time for this weekends competition.
Ben currently leads the 2012 Powerboat GP British RYA GT15 Championship where after 4 rounds of racing he has a comfortable lead of 14 points over the seven boat fleet having won every round of the competition to date.
Following victory at the 4th Round of the British Championships in Kingsbury Water Park last weekend Ben’s ready for what challenges lie ahead of him this weekend “It’s great to head to the European Championships on the back of a win at the British rounds. I won my first ever weekends racing at Kingsbury so it’s a special place for me.” comments the youngster
“Everything at the weekend felt good and confidence in the team is high we’ve spent a lot of time getting the boat set up correctly and practising. I know I have my work cut out for me though there’s some really strong competition in European Racing but I have a really strong team behind me and the support of all the British Racers and all my sponsors so we wont be giving up with out a fight.”
From defending his European title Ben and the Jelf Racing team will head straight to Sweden where over the 28th & 29th July he will aim to also defend his World title. Follow Ben’s progress of the Jelf Racing Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JelfRacing