1981 F1 Powerboat World Championship season

The 1981 John Player Special Formula 1 World Series was the inaugural season of Formula 1 Powerboat racing. Representing the 'OZ' racing class of the period, the championship was formed as a consequence of a difference of opinion between the leading figures in powerboat racing at the time, and was heavily supported by both John Player and engine manufacturer Outboard Marine Corporation, whose Johnson and Evinrude branded engines were used by the entire field.

Renato Molinari was the series' first ever champion, winning four of the five races he contested. In total, six races made up the 1981 world championship, beginning in Como, Italy and ending in Den Bosch, Netherlands. An additional non-championship invitational race, the British Grand Prix, was also held at Chasewater.

Series Formation

Teams and drivers

Team	Hull	Engine	Race drivers	Rounds
Beneteau	Velden	Johnson 3.5l V8	Cees van der Velden	All
G.A.G	Velden	OMC 3l V6	Arthur Mostert	2
		Johnson 3.5l V8		3–5
Gordon's Gin	Velden	Johnson 3.5l V8	Roger Jenkins	All
John Player Special	Velden	Johnson 3.5l V8	Bob Spalding	All
			Tom Percival	All
		OMC 3l V6	Francois Salabert	1–2
		Johnson 3.5l V8		3–6
Tecnocar	Molinari	Evinrude 3.5l V8	Renato Molinari	1–5
			Lillo Colombo	All
Trimite	Velden	Johnson 3.5l V8	Rick Frost	3
	Velden	OMC 3l V6	Hans Pelster	1–2
		Johnson 3.5l V8		3–6
	Velden	OMC 3l V6	Andy Bullen	2

External links

• The official website of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship
• The official website of the Union Internationale Motonautique