The countdown is on for what promises to be a spectacular showcase of inflatable powerboat racing, with Powerboat Racing South Africa (PBRSA) preparing to host the inaugural International Powerboat Series in the Western Cape from 25 September to 3 October.
With a massive 44 teams entered across four fiercely contested classes, the event will bring together competitors from South Africa, a large contingent of Namibian teams and even an international challenge from the United States of America.
For the teams, however, this will be far more than simply a week of racing. The series will test drivers, navigators, machinery and teamwork across three very different disciplines, with competitors needing to adapt quickly as the action moves from the surf to endurance racing and finally onto the tight confines of a circuit.

The opening salvo will see competitors take to the surf at The Strand, where two days of racing will be held in spring-tide conditions. The combination of power, water and constantly changing conditions is set to provide a dramatic opening to the series.
From there, the boats and crews will move to Gordon’s Bay Harbour for the demanding long-haul endurance discipline. This will put a premium on consistency, teamwork and machinery preparation, with every crew looking to bank valuable points while keeping their boats in one piece.

The final stage of the series will see the competitors switch gears once again for two days of circuit racing, bringing the event to a high-speed conclusion. Rest days have been built into the programme between the different disciplines, giving teams valuable time to regroup, inspect their boats and adjust their set-ups for optimum performance before heading back onto the water. With such a varied programme, consistency could prove crucial. A team that dominates one discipline will still need to deliver across the entire series if it wants to emerge at the front when the final racing is complete.

South Africa will field a strong contingent across the Standard, Pro-Stock and Modified classes, with crews preparing to fly the national flag against the international opposition. The South African Team is as follows –

Standard Class
S1: Jonathan Badenhorst & Franco Munnik
S2: Franco Cilliers & Roelof du Plessis
S11: Dylan Bamberger & Carien Engelbrecht
S15: Herman & Luke Louwrens

Pro-Stock Class
#2: Flippie Schoeman & Wian Strydom
#71: Jean Louw & Eduan van Niekerk
#88: Dreyer van Niekerk & AJ Bosch

Modified Class
M11: Marc Gleed & Abdul Benjamin
M21: Ruben Scholtz & JD van Niekerk
M27: Johann Lodewyks & Sebastian Kotze
M71: Dwayne van der Vyver & Jean Vosloo

Team Manager: Kevin Castleman

Adding another exciting dimension to the event will be the inaugural Novice Class, which has attracted 11 teams. The class provides a new platform for competitors to experience the demands of international-level inflatable powerboat racing and adds another layer of competition to an already packed programme.
With international crews, four classes and three very different racing disciplines on the menu, the stage is set for high-speed action in the Western Cape.

The green flag is almost ready to fall — and when it does, there will be nowhere to hide as South African, Namibian and American crews go head-to-head in the inaugural International Powerboat Series.