Latest news with #TeamKingfisher
ITV News
16-07-2025
- Climate
- ITV News
Ormskirk powerboat driver's bid for F2 world championship glory
ITV Granada Reports journalist Lauren Ostridge has been speaking to Mat Palfreyman who is due to compete in the second round of the F2 World Powerboat Championships. A British powerboat driver, who reaches speeds of up to 120mph when he competes, says the sport is a "huge adrenaline rush" - but his mum can't watch his races in person. Matt Palfreyman, from Ormskirk, is hoping for back-to-back wins as he travels to Lithuania for the second round of the F2 World Powerboat Championship. The 32-year-old dad, and member of the Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club, claimed victory in the opening round of the competition in Italy in June, beating teams from Sweden, France, Norway and Abu Dhabi. But the competitive amateur sport is not for the faint-hearted, with Matt admitting his own mum will not watch him compete at high speeds. "My mum comes to the races but she'll watch it on a live-stream on her phone - it's a bit baffling for me", Matt said. "It is an adrenalin rush. We've done the record run in boats at 138mph, but that is just holding on for dear life." Matt drives for Team Kingfisher, owned and managed by businessman and fellow powerboat driver Ian Blacker, and trains at Carr Mill Dam, near St Helens. When the team competed in Brindisi, Italy, Matt says he felt "right at home" because the conditions on the water were choppy, but he was not prepared for the heat. He said: "I think it was 35 degrees and we had a weather warning, plus you're in a fireproof suit in an enclosed cockpit - you can add another 15 degrees at least. "But to be honest when your helmet is on and you're in the race, you're just trying to beat whoever is in front of you and get to the end of the race." "You can't beat the feeling of winning and being the best," said Ian Blacker. "There's a team that's sponsored by the Abu Dhabi government and a team sponsored by the Saharsa government and we beat them." Power-boating is a highly regulated sport and, in order to operate at high speeds, drivers have to pass an annual "dunk test" to ensure they can escape the cockpit if the vessel flips on water. "Simulated and the real thing are two completely different things", Matt explains. "When I was competing last year, with five laps to go, we did end up losing and putting it over backwards. "Suddenly you can see sky and the you can see water and then sky again. There are a lot of safety features to keep you safe but I promise you they don't come into your head in the moment - you're just trying to get out." The second round of the F2 World Powerboat Championships take place in Lithuania from Thursday, 17 June, with the final scheduled between 12-14 September in Portugal.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Local Powerboat Driver wins first round race in Italy
Tam Kingfisher Fire & Security powerboat driver Matthew Palfreyman wins the first round of the 2025 F2 World Powerboat Championship in Brindisi, Italy. The 32-year-old from Aughton, Ormskirk made an impactful start in the Championship opening round and delivered a brilliant performance, in which proved to be tough conditions during the race. Advertisement Qualifying was moved to the Sunday morning due to fierce wind concerns. However, this did not affect Palfreyman's performance, with him securing pole position in the opening qualifying session. READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE - Marc Guehi latest, Alexander Isak future, Hugo Ekitike wanted READ MORE: The seven players waving goodbye to Liverpool today as Arne Slot transfer plans take shape The Team Kingfisher driver won the exact same event in Brindisi last year and was hoping for the same outcome in this year's race. The race itself lasted 30 laps and also had a yellow flag, due to a crash which involved Team Abu Dhabi's boat and its driver Mansoor Al Mansoori. Even at that point Palfreyman was still clear of the pack behind him. Advertisement "The conditions were tough, but I like the challenge of driving in the rough water—it suits my driving style' 'The boat was set up and ran perfectly. Honestly, once I was out in front, I managed to simply pull away and I knew it was going to be difficult for anyone to get past me. I actually felt untouchable out there!' said Palfreyman after the first race of the Championship. The driver from Ormskirk finished first in the race and was accompanied on the podium by French driver Peter Morin in second place, and Hilmer Wiberg of Sweden in third place. This win means that Team Kingfisher has now taken an early lead in the 2025 F2 World Championship standings, as they sit in first position with 20 points. Advertisement After a dominant first display by Team Kingfisher, owner and team manager Ian Blacker said: 'I'm proud of Matthew and the whole crew. "A flawless race in difficult conditions. We made the right decision to run the DAC/Optimax boat in this opening round – the boat performed exactly as we'd hoped and gave Matthew what he needed take the win. This is the best possible start for our 2025 season, and now we need to build on this success and shift our focus to Klaipėda.' Palfreyman finished in fifth place last year but this time around he is looking to beat the rest of the 19 drivers and has his sights set on this year's title, with Team Kingfisher now showing they are ready to challenge for the 2025 Championship. Team Kingfisher Fire & Security will be back in action for the second round out of five, in the Championship, on the weekend of the July 17-19, when they will race in Klaipeda, Lithuania.
