Date Added: 2008-08-06

On August 16th & 17th The largest off-shore powerboat race series in the world the Honda Formula 4-Stroke will be powering its way back into the Liverpool dock for the 2008 Championship.

After the success of the 2007 final which was hosted by the City last September the team will make a welcome return and have moved their race calendar especially to hit Liverpool on the eighth month for the 08 celebrations which started earlier this year.

In association with Liverpool 08 City of Culture the huge extravaganza will see up to 40 Cougar race boats make their way to the City to put on the biggest on water display ever seen with local powerboat stars Team Williams who will be racing again this year in front of their home crowd. The Williams Team welcome a new arrival to their entourage The Honda 150hp Cougar Powerboat, making them one of only two double teams in the series.

Scott Williams, team front man and driver of their Honda 225hp Cougar said, “Racing at home makes this all worthwhile, everyone in the series looks forward to the warm welcome Liverpool gives the series and all the teams, this being the year of Capital of Culture we are expecting record breaking spectators on the shore line to watch the world’s largest fleet of powerboats racing in front of the liver birds”.

Councillor Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council and deputy chair of the Liverpool Culture Company, said: "The Honda series has been a great success in previous years and I'm delighted that the fleet is returning to Liverpool for our European Capital of Culture celebrations”. “It's a fantastic sight to see the boats racing against the backdrop of our World Heritage waterfront, and I’m sure that thousands of spectators will pack the banks of the Mersey to soak up the atmosphere over the weekend."

The penultimate round in Liverpool will start to separate the boys from the men and not to mention the girls from the women as this sport attracts both sex even the couples. All of which put up a good fight out on the water as they rough it out on the unpredictable race courses for the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Winning Crown.

Off-shore powerboat racing remains popular for it’s close to the water’s edge action, and this is exactly what spectators can expect to see from Kings Parade. The powerboats will roar right up alongside the Mersey border right the way along the course which has been designed to put the teams to the test and give crowds the action they have been waiting for.

Honda the title sponsor for the show will also make a huge presence over the weekend as they display a wide selection of their remarkable products from The Honda Dealership Display at Hartley Quay and of course their unbeatable marine engines out on the water powering the whole race. Honda are nearing a 10 year mile stone as backers to the Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Race Series and have made success from doing so by becoming the market leader in Marine Technology.

"Liverpool is a fantastic venue for the racing giving our spectators some great viewing positions. We are all looking forward to a great weekend of exciting racing", said Geoff Mathews General Manager Honda Power Equipment Honda (UK).

Saturday’s race will start at 11am with the entire fleet of the 225hp taking to the water for a 30 minute battle followed at 1pm by the smaller 150hp boats who will endure the same thrilling fight in front of crowds. On Sunday spectators will get even more action with twice the racing starting at 10:45am for the 150hp first final, then at 11:35am for the 225hp fist final. The afternoon will see the second finals at 1pm and 2pm respectively.

The weekend rounds up at 3:30pm on the Sunday with a Podium Prize Giving Ceremony outside the ACC Liverpool Conference Centre which will be presented by a Mystery Guest.