Kent powerboat racer Ben Jelf is set to launch his 2026 campaign this weekend as he heads to Stewartby Powerboat Racing Club in Bedford for the opening round of the British Masters Championship.
The 25-year-old from Maidstone will line up in the F2 catamaran class, taking on some of Britain’s top powerboat racers as the new domestic series gets underway.
The Stewartby Powerboat Racing British Masters will feature competitors from across the country, all aiming to build momentum toward the season title. The championship will be contested over four rounds in 2026:
- Round 1: 5 April 2026
- Round 2: 2 August 2026
- Round 3: 26–27 September 2026
- Round 4: 17–18 October 2026
A New Three-Part Racing Format
The British Masters format includes seven different classes competing across three distinct competitions, creating multiple opportunities for drivers to deliver strong results during the season.
The first element is the British Masters Championship, which includes one qualifying session and four heats per day. The heats are run back-to-back, with reverse grids for heats two and four.
The second element is the British Masters Match Race Championship, featuring head-to-head elimination races over two laps, using both short and long courses.
The third element is the British Masters Lap Record Championship, where competitors score points based on their fastest laps achieved during racing conditions.
According to the press release, the new series is designed to test all-around ability, combining endurance-style heat racing, the intensity of match-race duels, and the outright speed challenge of the lap record format.
Jelf said he is ready to get the season started.
“The British Masters is set to be an awesome new competition, and I can’t wait to kick my season off on home water at Stewartby. We’ve put in a lot of work over the winter, and I’m feeling ready. The format means you have to be sharp in every session — qualifying, heats, match races, everything. I’m going out there to fight for wins and start the season strong.”
The weekend is also expected to deliver plenty of action for spectators, with back-to-back heats, rapid turnarounds, and the added challenge of reverse-grid racing. The match-race section is expected to add further drama, with close head-to-head battles likely throughout the event.
The season begins with testing and training on Saturday, before the racing program gets underway on Sunday.
