Race driver hurt as powerboat flips

HUGE crowds gathered around the Albert Dock this weekend to watch the Liverpool leg of the largest off-shore powerboat race series in the world.

The Honda Formula 4-Stroke returned to the city for the 2008 championship after the success of the 2007 event, held last September on the Mersey.

Races took place on Saturday and yesterday, but during choppy conditions yesterday Liverpool’s team – Team Williams – saw their boat tip over and their driver sent to hospital.

Scott Williams, team front man and driver of the Honda 225hp Cougar, suffered a leg injury as the boat flipped over at 50-60mph.

It was one of three boats to overturn, but Team Williams navigator Ken Williams said Scott was expected to be OK.

Mr Williams, from North Wales, said: “I was OK, but Scott has a sore leg which he went to get checked out.

“It was really rough and as we turned it tipped over, the engine is broken and there’s a hole in the side of the boat.

“The crowds have been great and we’ve all had a good time, I’m hopeful we might be able to win the championship.”

More than 40 Cougar race boats, 225hp and the smaller 150hp, took part in the penultimate round of the championship.

The race calendar was timed especially to hit Liverpool on the eighth month of 2008, to fit in with Capital of Culture celebrations.

Last year, Team Williams narrowly missed out on win- ning the debut event, which att- racted hundreds of spectators.

Preliminary standings yesterday afternoon placed Team Williams in second place overall, standing them in good stead for the final leg on the Isle of Man.

Mr Williams added: “It’s only four weeks before the next competition, so hopefully we’ll have the boat repaired.”

TO SEE more shots from the weekend’s action, visit www. liverpooldailypost.co.uk/ galleries

laurasharpe