HEIGHTS OF ABRAHAM TAKE ONE STEP CLOSER TO TITLE

Heights of Abraham has one hand firmly placed on the Powerboat P1 SuperStock Championship 300 Class trophy after winning the Southampton Grand Prix of the Sea.

Only a tragedy of Shakespearian proportions can now deny Rupert Pugh and Dan Whapples from their maiden SuperStock title as the Matlock-based outfit stretched their lead to 34-points with only two races remaining in Lymington on October 2nd.

This year’s frontrunners powered to back-to-back victories on Southampton Water as their closest rivals, Maurice Lacroix and Evans Heritage Developments, struggled to match the superior straight-line speed and precision cornering of Messrs Pugh and Whapples.

Home Grand Prix of the Sea hero, Dan Whapples, from Warsash, was ecstatic with his team’s performance. He said: “What a day! Everything went perfectly. After losing to Rough Cut Racing in Wales, we’ve been practicing even harder so it has clearly paid off.

"It was fantastic to race against the backdrop of the PSP Southampton Boat Show and in front of the finest in the marine industry. There was a lot of spectator boats out on the water and the racecourse was extremely challenging so it was a great event to be a part of."

Michael and Stephen Baggs from Maurice Lacroix delighted their sponsors with a sensational second-placed finish. The brothers comfortably held off the challenge of Evans Heritage Developments in race one and SuperStock debutants, Double Six, in race two to secure their fourth consecutive podium finish of the season.

Brian Caudwell and Neil Cadman edged out Rhys and Haydn Evans for overall third position, but the father-and-son outfit are still in pole position to end the season on the podium.

Controversy surrounded the result of the 150 Class as Delmar Group was disqualified for infringing the official rules of the series.

The contentious verdict was reached by the race jury following a team protest, which promoted Team Fox to overall winners in Southampton with Martin Colligan and Gideon du Val claiming their first P1 SuperStock Grand Prix of the Sea title.

The Jersey-based team pipped Team Purple to the gold whilst current leaders, Grandstand Motor Sports and GSS Mermaid shared the bronze medals.