This weekend sees the reigning British Formula Grand Prix (F2) Champion Sam Whittle making his debut in the UIM F2 World Championship in Augustów, Poland. PRW spoke to him just as he was boarding the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle in Folkestone.
This year the marine engineer who works for Powertech Marine on the south coast of England has been successfully campaigning his Moore hull on the British national circuit. Now he has decided he’s ready to step-up and face the world’s elite F2 teams and drivers.
Whittle isn’t new to international competition though. As back in 2018 he travelled the globe whilst competing in the H2o Racing F4S Championship driving for Duarte Benavente’s F1 Atlantic Team. Taking his first Grand Prix win in Amaravati, India he followed this up with solid performances in China and the UAE which secured him third place in the championship and the overall bronze medal.
It would not be possible for him to make the trip to Poland without the support of his new title sponsor, Extreme Boats, who build aluminium sportfishing hulls. Mark Divito, who heads up the company’s European distribution explained how the new partnership came about.
I was chatting to Sam at the Sea Angling Classic in June when he told me of his aspiration to race in this year’s F2 World Championship. His professional outlook and impressive results in Britain gave me the confidence to back him and represent Extreme Boats on an international stage.
When Whittle spoke to PRW about the forthcoming challenge he said.
It’s going to be amazing to be able to compete in Poland, the entry list reads like a who’s who of the most talented F2 drivers currently competing in the world championship. I’m grateful to Mark, Extreme Boats and my other supporters who have helped to make this racing dream come true. The best way I can repay them all is with a good debut performance in Augustów.
The first opportunity for the fans to see the F2 competitors will be during a boat parade on Friday evening. This will see some of the competitors drive their raceboats along the Netta causeway passing the popular Nowa Szekla Tawerna & Bar on route to the town. It will be streamed live on the PRW FaceBook page. Then the following morning the F2 contenders will take to the water for Free Practice ahead of the three-stage qualifying in the afternoon.
Action Images by Chris Davies/PRW
