Sheppard: ‘2008 was toughest year at this level’

Wednesday 01 October 2008

The #99 Fountain Worldwide Evolution boat surges through the Atlantic waters of Portimao

#99 Fountain Worldwide 1st4boats.com pilot James Sheppard has branded the 2008 Powerboat P1 season as the hardest he’s ever had competing at offshore racing’s top level. Sheppard and throttleman Craig Wilson secured their second Evolution-class crown this year, but faced increased competition from their rival outfits.

The #99 Fountain Worldwide team dominated the 2007 Evolution class title fight, despite starting the season one round in, and introduced a much more professional approach to competing in the championship.

This year – using the same Ilmor-powered Fountain hull – they’ve have had to adapt their strategy to cope with several mid-season technical problems and hugely increased competition from their rivals. A number of leading teams and boat and engine manufacturers have significantly stepped up their game to try and take on the #99 Fountain Worldwide outfit in 2008.

“This year has been the hardest year I’ve ever had competing at this level of powerboat racing,” Sheppard said in an exclusive interview with powerboatp1.com. “Last year, in the rough races, everyone was taking care of their boats and running at their own pace. This year, you had to go absolutely flat out from start to finish, otherwise you’d come no where.

“It’s very hard racing, but that’s as it should be. The machinery is built to a high level of professionalism, but to be on the pace in these rough conditions for a whole hour is absolute butchery. From a professionalism point of view, you do it to the best of your ability and try to do it correctly, because competitors will catch up. You set a new level, but everyone this year has caught up. Between Mercury, Ilmor and the Seatek diesel it has been a great, competitive year.”

To read more of newly-crowned Evolution class champion James Sheppard’s thoughts on the season just gone, click here.

To read #99 Fountain Worldwide pilot Craig Wilson’s analysis of the season just gone, click here.