Lancashire Powerboat Racer heads for F1 World Championships 

A UK racer from Lancashire Powerboat racing club in St Helens has been announced as the new driver for the internationally world renowned Qatar Formula 1 Powerboat team.

Malcolm Goodman, aged 27, from Prescot in Merseyside will be competing against the best powerboat pilots in the world during the last 3 rounds of the 2009 World Championships held in the Middle East.

Team Qatar required a replacement driver following extensive injuries to the UK's Andy Elliott at a previous round of the championship in Russia.

Malcolm currently competes in the Formula 2 RYA British National Championship where his own boat regularly reaches speeds of up to 115mph. Malcolm is well prepared and has lots of experience to help him along the way in his first race in Doha, Qatar on 27/28th November. The Formula 1 boat that he will take to the water in is very competitive and Malcolm is looking forward to the challenge of competing with up to 20 other boats all reaching speeds in excess of 130mph.

When asked about the opportunity to race Formula 1, Malcolm said: “I have raced boats for as long as I can remember, and it has been my life-long dream to race on the Formula 1 circuit. I am proud to have been given the opportunity by the Qatar Team to race against such world class drivers that I have admired for many years. Although this will be my first time out in this class of boat, I am keen and up for the challenge. It is a large competitive field and I hope I will get to grips with the boat quickly and be as close to the front as possible.”