Without juniors we do not have our future.
At this moment we have good "ladder of success" for juniors in UIM.
Formula Future (8-18 years)
Junior racing: JT-250 and GT-15 (10-16 years)
Introduction classes: OSY-400, O-125, T-550, S-550, P-750 (from 14 years)
Unfortunately we have in many countries their own national junior classes (for example SJ-15 in Scandinavia etc.). These classes are not compatible with UIM rules and young drivers from tehese countries are not parcipicating in international titled races because of that.
Some people are telling, that these boats, they are using in national races, are safe because of stability. It is not true. I saw some of these races in last 10 years and every time there are accidents with these boats. Boats in classes JT-250 and GT-15 are having less accidents, even numbers of drivers in one heat is bigger. I know at least two countries, where they tryed to use SJ-15 boats in races against JT-250 and they stopped it because of problems with boats, which are not stable and have a lot of accidents.
In the year 2008 we had UIM WC for JT-250 with 29 boats from 9 nations. For GT-15 there were 15 boats from 3 nations (1 from FIN and 1 from GBR).
In the year 2009 we had UIM WC JT-250 with 29 boats from 9 nations. Before race we had even 35 entries from 10 nations. Some of entries not showed up. GT-15 WC was cancelled, because of not enough interest. That means 2-stroke engines are definitely more popular, than 4-stroke engines.
We have to see, that very good job with juniors is made in South Africa and they are coming to the juniors WC organised in Europe. Fantastic!
One way to solve the problem is to attract countries with their own national classes to move to the international UIM classes. Another way is introduce one national junior class to UIM, but we do not need many of juniors classes in UIM. We need one good class, which is usable also for "Powerboating Nations GP (Cup)".
At this moment we have good "ladder of success" for juniors in UIM.
Formula Future (8-18 years)
Junior racing: JT-250 and GT-15 (10-16 years)
Introduction classes: OSY-400, O-125, T-550, S-550, P-750 (from 14 years)
Unfortunately we have in many countries their own national junior classes (for example SJ-15 in Scandinavia etc.). These classes are not compatible with UIM rules and young drivers from tehese countries are not parcipicating in international titled races because of that.
Some people are telling, that these boats, they are using in national races, are safe because of stability. It is not true. I saw some of these races in last 10 years and every time there are accidents with these boats. Boats in classes JT-250 and GT-15 are having less accidents, even numbers of drivers in one heat is bigger. I know at least two countries, where they tryed to use SJ-15 boats in races against JT-250 and they stopped it because of problems with boats, which are not stable and have a lot of accidents.
In the year 2008 we had UIM WC for JT-250 with 29 boats from 9 nations. For GT-15 there were 15 boats from 3 nations (1 from FIN and 1 from GBR).
In the year 2009 we had UIM WC JT-250 with 29 boats from 9 nations. Before race we had even 35 entries from 10 nations. Some of entries not showed up. GT-15 WC was cancelled, because of not enough interest. That means 2-stroke engines are definitely more popular, than 4-stroke engines.
We have to see, that very good job with juniors is made in South Africa and they are coming to the juniors WC organised in Europe. Fantastic!
One way to solve the problem is to attract countries with their own national classes to move to the international UIM classes. Another way is introduce one national junior class to UIM, but we do not need many of juniors classes in UIM. We need one good class, which is usable also for "Powerboating Nations GP (Cup)".
