As thousands of race fans lined the promenade in Tønsberg eighteen of Powerboat Racings, top F2 racers took to the water for the Grand Prix of Norway’s match Race.
Each of the racers took to the water for a speed lap to secure their place in the match race. With only sixteen places up for grabs Sweden’s Johan Österberg and Lithuania’s Egidijus Dagilis failed to make the cut and were the first boats to drop out of the competition.
As sixteen boats looked for their path to the final two and match race glory. British Racer Scott Curtis beat Tobias Munthe-Kaas and Giacomo Sacchi-Abbate to secure his place in the semi-final.
Next to join the semi-final was Swede Mathilda Wiberg beating Nikita Lijcs and Mansoor Al Mansoori to claim her place.
Defending World Champion Rashed Al Qemzi was the next to the third semi-final position beating Nelson Morin and David Del Pin.
The final semi-final position went to Championship leader Matthew Palfreyman, who faced Edgaras Riabko and Jarno Vilmunen.
The first semi-final saw Mathilda face the returning British Racer Scott Curtis. Little separated the two drivers, but Mathilda managed to steal the win and, in it, secure the first place in the final.
The second semi-final saw Championship leader Matthew Palfreyman pitted against reigning Champion Rashed Al Qemzi. Another close contest, but Rashed edged a head of Palfreyman and powered home to the win.
Rashed Al Qemzi won all four of his Match Races to Claim the Match Race Podium Top Spot in a Master Class from the defending champion.
Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg secured the silver medal spot.
In a battle of the Brits, Scott Curtis and Matthew Palfreyman went head to head for the 3rd podium spot. Palfreyman edged ahead of Curtis to complete the podium positions.
