03/08/2026
PRESS RELEASE
British Powerboat Racer Ben Jelf Takes on High Altitude Challenge at the Inaugural Mid Asia Grand Prix in Kyrgyzstan
British Powerboat Racer Ben Jelf and Team Atlantic travelled to Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan last weekend to compete in the inaugural Mid Asia Grand Prix, the second round of the F1H2O World Championship. Eight teams made the journey to the spectacular high altitude venue, where racing at over 1,600 metres above sea level pushed every team’s engine setups and propeller selections to the limit. Every lap of free practice and qualifying proved crucial in finding the winning combination for the demanding forty plus lap Grand Prix.
The weekend began with a major challenge. Before Jelf could even take to the water, the team faced extensive repairs to his DAC hull, damaged during the previous round in Cagliari following a dramatic collision with an overturned Sami Seliö at the start. With the expert support of renowned boat builder David Moore, Team Atlantic worked tirelessly to ensure the boat was ready for the first practice session.
With repairs complete, the team turned their attention to testing setups and propellers in search of the vital extra speed that many competitors were struggling to find at altitude. Portuguese teammate Duarte Benavente continued to battle persistent engine issues carried over from Cagliari, further affecting his lap times throughout the early sessions.
Saturday marked the arrival of Qualifying for the Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan, held under the watchful eye of His Excellency Sadyr Japarov, President of Kyrgyzstan, who attended alongside the heads of state of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Their presence added prestige and anticipation to the intense 20 minute Q1 session as teams fought for position in the challenging Issyk Kul conditions.
Jelf pushed hard throughout the session, narrowly missing out on Q2 by just 0.081 seconds, securing 13th place on the grid.
Saturday afternoon saw Jelf return to the water for the Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan – Issyk Kul Sprint Race 1. Starting from 6th, he launched off the line with a superb start and fought his way up to 4th place, earning valuable championship points for his 2026 World Championship campaign.
Sunday dawned with intense conditions for the gruelling 41 lap inaugural Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan – Issyk Kul. As the start lights went out, seventeen boats powered away from the pontoon, but Jelf’s engine misfired, leaving him chasing the pack. He quickly recovered to 16th, closing in on Maverick Team’s Deguisne and searching for an opportunity to pass.
However, disaster struck on lap 14 when Jelf attempted an inside move at Turn Two. The right hand side of his boat dug into Deguisne’s wash, causing a full roll and forcing Jelf out of the race. Teammate Benavente was also forced to retire after just one lap due to ongoing engine issues.
Despite the setback, Jelf remained positive about the team’s performance and the progress made throughout the weekend:
“It was a tough weekend, but the team showed incredible determination to get us back on the water after the damage from Cagliari. Racing at altitude is a whole different challenge, and we made real steps forward with the setup. The crash was frustrating, but that’s racing at this level. We’ll regroup, take the positives, and come back fighting in Shanghai.” — Ben Jelf, Team Atlantic
The Championship now moves on to Shanghai on 3–4 October, where Team Atlantic will look to strike back with strong results across the board.
-ENDS-
