PUGH READY FOR JIBES OF COMPLACENCY

Heights of Abraham’s Rupert Pugh has warned his race rivals that the 300 Class champions-elect will not be getting complacent in Lymington, even if they only need to finish fifth to secure their first Powerboat P1 SuperStock Championship.

Pugh and Dan Whapples took the checkered flag in first place on Sunday and the pair now head into the final round of the 2010 series at Lymington in three weeks time with a comfortable 34-point lead.

After powering over the finishing line as runners-up at the Pwllheli Grand Prix of the Sea, Pugh was quick to praise the “fantastic team effort” in Southampton that saw the current pacesetters get back on top of the podium. “It was an incredible opportunity to race in front of the PSP Southampton Boat Show. The docks and the harbour wall as well as the awe-inspiring sight of HMS Dauntless were in such close proximity of the racecourse that it made for a breathtaking challenge for the teams,” said Pugh.

It was a pleasing return to form for Heights of Abraham who bounced back from their only defeat of the season in North Wales in July where the team suffered engine problems between races. Pugh was delighted with the boat’s performance: He added: “We knew mechanically that it was important to get back to winning ways. We set out to win as many races as possible at the start of the season, so to finish first in eight-out-of-nine races is extremely satisfying.”

The blue machine’s tussle with Maurice Lacroix into the first turn in race one was the highlight of the weekend in the 300 Class, but the rest of the fleet were helpless for the rest of fast and furious action as Messrs Pugh and Whapples were unbeatable around the turns and down the straights across the shimmering Southampton Water.

Pugh was quick to pay tribute to his co-pilot who “is the best navigator in the current series.” He said: “I trust everything he says and our communication has been vital to this year’s success. Dan is a very confident sailor and understands sea navigation incredibly well. Powerboat navigation is bread and butter for him but he takes his job very seriously.

“He’s very assured and proved out of Sunday’s first turn that he is very quick to read a tight line and keeping us on course.”

The 2010 UK powerboat championship is going right to the wire and Pugh believes that the team deserves to be standing on top of the podium on October 2nd after a “phenomenal amount of work and a colossal effort” from everyone involved.

Pugh concluded: “Sunday’s result was incredible and makes it all worthwhile. On Friday night we were finishing off our engine preparations by torchlight

“The team is extremely excited about trying to conquer a different challenge in Lymington and if we get everything right on what looks like a tricky racecourse then there will be a lot of people back home who will be over the moon.”