Formula 4S Powerboat World Championship
The Formula-4s Powerboat World Championship is an international inshore powerboat racing competition for powerboats organised by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), hence it often being referred to as F4s. “S” letter refers to abbreviation from 4-stroke, which means that 4-stroke boat engines are being used in this class.
History
This class was designed as an ecological alternative to UIMS750, UIMS550, UIM F4 и UIM F3 classes. Before getting World Championship status this class was called SL-60. First races was in Scandinavian in 2005. In a year 2009 this class was chosen as a base for ADAC Masters international series conducted in Germany. In year 2010 class was given current name F-4s and European Championship status. In year 2011 was launched promotional series F-4s conducted together with F1H2O events. In the year 2013 was organized first World Championship in Formula-4s class.
Evolution and international series
For the present moment class F-4s has most dynamic evolution in a powerboat races. Stages of championships are conducted in different counties, such as Hungary, Latvia, Finland, France, Great Brittan, Germany, Sweden, Italy. Besides World and European Championships, prestigious international series are conducted such as ADAC Masters, Germany and promotional F-4s series to support F1H2O. In a year 2014 number of pilots running international series had exceeded 50. And it is not able to count number of national series pilots. Also a large number of open international events are conducted in different counties such as USA, China, United Arabian Emirates, Baltic and Scandinavian and many other countries. It need to emphasize Promotional F-4s series, which was funded to crate a reserve of young pilots and give them opportunity to learn circuits of F1H2O. Races are conducted together with Royal Races at same weekend. This popularity can be explained with a several reasons. One is a good safety. Boats of F-4s are equipped with safety cockpits taken from elder classes F1H2O and F2H2O. For the present moment there no fatality or serious injury among pilots of this class was recorded. Also it need to emphasize affordable price of enter to this class and low costs comparing to other Formula classes – F1, F2, F500. However performance rates of assembling and tuning-up are close to elder classes. Several weeks of serious job needed to be done by highly skilled mechanics. Normal this kind of work is done by shipyards or racing clubs with proper equipment. At last, one of main reason for many pilots to participate it this races is that this class is a shortest way to Royal Races. F-4s one of few classes which gives right to apply for super-license after having some experience (8 races according to UIM r ules). F-4s boats have same steering as an elder classes, corrected to speed. F-4s is a best practice for pilots. It was proved by tests of young pilots in F1 and F2 classes.
Boats
Boats in F-4s class is a tunnel catamaran. Construction technologies are same to elder classes. Newest technology and modern materials, such as carbon, kevlar, nomex, new types of polymer resin are used to construct boats. Costs of materials and manpower are high, same as in other Formula classes. That is because of high performance is need and high safety. Modern F-4s boats, same to elder classes, are equipped with 3000N/sm2 safety cockpits.
Lots of companies and private boat builders in Europe, USA, China are producing boats which fitting this class. Leading companies are BABA Racing (Italy), ASV (Hungary), Molgaard Racing (Denmark).
Engines
According to UIM rules, 4-stroke Mercury 60 EFI Racing is being used as only possible engine for this class. With a modern trends, this engine has low emission and follows most strict ecological regulations. Same time this engine has a high-performance, because of low center of gravity given consequent to sport type of midsection and suspension.
Engine data:
Power: 60Ps
Volume: 995 cm3
Number of cylinders: 4
Weight: 118 kg
The boats are slow (about 65 mph in competition) because of the rev-limited 4 stroke motor (6200 RPM). The boats blow over all too easily because they're less than 13' long and the motors weigh 260 lb (!). The SST45 class OMC 60 (about 55 shp) weighs about 145 lb on th same size boats; even the 70+ shp SSt60 OMC motor weighs only about 210 lb but the boats in that class are longer. The safety problem in this class is that the center of pressure is way too far in front of the center of gravity. Either the motor needs to go on a diet and loose 100 lb, or else the tunnels should be 1-2' longer. Apparently, no one at the UIM understands simple aerodynamics.
Format
Stages of World and European championships is being conducted on circuits homologated by UIM. Number of boats in a heat should not exceed number of boats in homologation of race curse. Participants of main heats are selected by qualification. Maximum straight is 600m. Races running anticlockwise. Minimal number of the heats is 2. Generally it is 3 or 4 heats. Pilots is being scored for each heat according to UIM rules. Winner is defined by sum of points.
Champions
World champions:
| Season | Champion | Runner up | Second runner up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 |  COMPARATO, Alberto |
 LINDSTRÖM, Risto |
NYHOLM, Anton |
| 2014 | COMPARATO, Alberto |
 LIJCS, Nikita |
 MANIEWSKI, Adrian |
| 2013 |  TABORI, Aron |
MANIEWSKI, Adrian |
 RIABKO, Edgars |
| 2012 |  SÖDERLING, Tobias |
MANIEWSKI, Adrian |
RIABKO, Edgars |
| 2011 | MOROZS, Mārtiņš |
SAMUELSSON, Oskar |
MANIEWSKI, Adrian |
| 2010 | SPARRING, Daniel |
PRZYBYL, Ada |
 SCHELLER, Alexander |
| 2009 | HAGIN, Stefan |
SAMUELSSON, Oskar |
GIMPL, Norbert |
| 2008 | SPARRING, Daniel |
SAMUELSSON, Oskar |
GIMPL, Norbert |
Formula 1 F4-s World Series:
| Season | Champion | Runner up | Second runner up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | SZYMURA, Mike |
 BRINEY, Rigby |
 AL KUWARI, Khalid |
| 2013 | SZYMURA, Mike |
FRIBERG, Nicklas |
 WU, Bincheng |
| 2012 | FORSS, Jesper |
 PALFREYMAN, Matthew |
 MUNTHE-KAAS, Tobias |
| 2011 | PALFREYMAN, Matthew |
SJÖHOLM, Bimba |
AL SHAMLAN, Khalid |
| 2010 | SAMUELSSON, Oskar |
ROMS, Filip |
HAGIN, Stefan |
European champions:
| Season | Champion | Runner up | Second runner up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | MANNINEN, Juho-Matti |
SEDERHOLM, Magnus |
LIJCS, Nikita |
| 2014 | COMPARATO, Alberto |
LIJCS, Nikita |
MANIEWSKI, Adrian |
| 2013 | MARTIN, Olle |
TABORI, Aron |
MANIEWSKI, Adrian |
| 2012 | SÖDERLING, Tobias |
SAUERSSING, Manuel |
RIABKO, Edgars |
| 2011 | SAUERSSING, Manuel |
MOROZS, Mārtiņš |
MANIEWSKI, Adrian |
| 2010 | HAGIN, Stefan |
MANIEWSKI, Adrian |
MOROZS, Mārtiņš |
