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. Whilst the series was designed to showcase the firm's huge 3.5 litre V8 engines, the very first race saw all boats using smaller V6 units and only six drivers would be given the V8 engines for the remainder of the year.

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 Velden Beneteau Racing Velden Johnson 3.0 V6 1 Cees van der Velden 1 Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6 Johnson 3.0 V6 8 Arthur Mostert 2–6 Gordon's Gin Velden Johnson 3.0 V6 9 Roger Jenkins 1 Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6 Johnson 3.0 V6 19 Rick Frost 3 Team John Player Special Velden Johnson 3.0 V6 10 Tom Percival 1 Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6 Johnson 3.0 V6 11 Bob Spalding 1 Johnson 3.5 V8 2–6 Johnson 3.0 V6 12 Francois Salabert All Andy Bullen Velden Evinrude 3.0 V6 16 Andy Bullen 1–2 Tecnocar Squadra Corse Molinari Evinrude 3.0 V6 161 Lillo Colombo 1 Evinrude 3.5 V8 2–6 Evinrude 3.0 V6 165 Renato Molinari 1 Evinrude 3.5 V8 2–5 Hans Pelster Velden Evinrude 3.0 V6 Hans Pelster 1–5

Season calendar

Round Race title Date Circuit location Race winner Hull/Engine 1 1st Grand Prix of Italy 17 May Como Renato Molinari Molinari/Evinrude 2 1st Grand Prix of Germany 21 June Brodenbach Renato Molinari Molinari/Evinrude 3 1st Grand Prix of Britain 31 August Holme Pierrepont Renato Molinari Molinari/Evinrude 4 1st Grand Prix of Norway Drammen Renato Molinari Molinari/Evinrude 5 1st Grand Prix of France Vichy Cees van der Velden Velden/Johnson 6 1st Grand Prix of the Netherlands Den Bosch Bob Spalding Velden/Johnson

The British round of the championship was known as the John Player Grand Prix for sponsorship reasons.

Non-championship events Race title Date Circuit location Race winner Hull/Engine British Grand Prix 12 July Chasewater Cees van der Velden Velden/Johnson

Results and standings Points were awarded to the top six finishers based on the aggregated results of between one and four heat races during the event. Any drivers below sixth place were not classified (NC).

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th  Points 9 6 4 3 2 1

Drivers standings Pos Driver ITA GER GBR NOR FRA NED Points 1 Renato Molinari 1 1 1 1 2 42 2 Cees van der Velden 2 NC 2 5 1 3 27 3 Bob Spalding NC 3 3 2 3 1 27 4 Tom Percival 4 5 5 3 5 4 16 5 Roger Jenkins 5 NC 6 NC 4 2 12 6 Francois Salabert 3 2 NC NC 6 NC 11 7 Lillo Colombo 6 4 NC 4 NC 5 9 8 Arthur Mostert 6 4 NC NC 6 5 9 Hans Pelster NC NC NC 6 NC 1 10 Andy Bullen NC NC 0 11 Rick Frost NC 0

References

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