Cutting tool supplier WNT supports Powerboat GP endeavour, helping to engineer lighter craft

As title sponsor of the team, WNT (UK) will provide financial support for Steve as he competes in the Powerboat GP RYA British Championship 2014, along providing engineering resource and cutting tools to develop the boat throughout the season. "The sponsorship of Steve and his team fits well with our existing commitments in other areas of high speed sport, where we continue to work with female motorcycle racer, and engineer, Sam Burman," explains says Tony Pennington, managing director, WNT (UK). "It was an engineering connection that brought us into contact with Steve during the 2013 season. We immediately saw the potential of this exciting sport as a way to promote our business through customer experiences and also to help develop the boat's performance through innovative use of our engineering expertise and cutting tools." As part of the sponsorship package, Steve and his support team will work closely with WNT (UK) to re-engineer specific components, replacing cast parts with billet machined aerospace grade, aluminium components, in order to reduce weight and increase overall performance. Already one part has been identified that when machined from solid will be reduced in weight by a staggering 44%, helping to shave further time of the already staggering performance of the boat. Last year was Steve Hoult's rookie season in the Powerboat GP RYA British F2 Championship and he gained immediate success by winning his first ever race, finishing the season second in the championship, just six points shy of taking the overall win. The F2 boat driven by Steve is a 5 m long Swedish-built Molgard, which is powered by a very clean and efficient Mercury Optimax 200XS, Vee-6, two-stroke engine that revs to 8000 rpm and develops 230ps of power, propelling the boat to speeds in excess of 200 kph, with the boat barely skimming the surface of the water. The Powerboat GP RYA British Championship 2014 season kicks off at Oulton Broad over the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend, with further races taking place around the country throughout the year, details can be found at www.powerboatgp.co.uk/. WNT is at MACH 2014 this week, at the NEC Birmingham. See them on Stand 5641, Hall 5