Maidstone racer Ben Jelf was in record-breaking form in the 2025 Club Powerboat Championship opening round at Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club.

A club steeped in history, Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club’s outright lap record was set in 1984 by Tom Percival in his Formula 1 Hull with a 3.5litre engine.

Percival’s 27.78sec time had remained untouched for over four decades.

In 2023, Jelf had taken his Formula 1 outfit to Oulton Broad for a few test sessions where it became apparent he was close to the record when he set a lap time of 27.94sec.

With a looming schedule of shipping the boat to the opening round of the F1H2O World Championship in Lake Toba, Indonesia, in August, the team made the decision to put the boat and Jelf through their paces.

It was soon apparent the 24-year-old wasn’t missing a beat despite not having driven his boat in six months. By lap eight, he was a fraction of a second off the outright lap record.

He was gaining speed and had matched his own lap record from two years ago by lap 10.

Two laps later and, as commentator Jason Mantripp read out the latest lap time, a cheer went up as fans heard the magic 27.46sec. It meant Jelf had broken Percival’s record.

Jelf headed out for heat two for the sports boat class and quickly got down to business again.

Lap six of the 15-lap race saw Jelf put in another sensational lap as he set a new Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club outright record at 27.14sec.

Jelf reflected: “Tom Percival was a fantastic powerboat racer, he’s one of the legends of the sport [and] I have grown up hearing stories of him over the years. His record was a phenomenal achievement over 40 years ago and is testament to his skill and calibre of powerboat racer.

“Technology moves on and records exist to be broken. Tom’s engine was 3.5lr whereas mine is only 2.5lr [so] our boats are quite different and conditions and racing nowadays is a completely different ball game.

“I have the utmost respect for Tom and his record. The fact that nobody has been able to beat it in 40 years says it all.

“I’m over the moon to have been able to achieve the record, and I can tell you it wasn’t easy at all. Lots of my laps were coming in near, but I had to push myself to get it.

“It’s a great feeling, knowing you are the fastest person to have raced at such a historic racing venue and club, and it was great to reward my family, team, sponsors and all our supporters with the record.

“I would like to thank the LOBMBC Club, their officials, volunteers, my fellow racers and everyone that came to watch and support me.”