The world’s fastest single-seat powerboats are heading to Central Asia for the first time, and Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul lake is about to witness something quite extraordinary. The inaugural F1H2O Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan kicks off this week, marking a significant expansion for the UIM Formula 1 powerboat championship into a region that has never hosted the sport’s elite circuit racing before.
At a press conference in the paddock, organisers made clear this is no hastily assembled event. Eduard Kubatov from the Kyrgyz State Agency for Tourism Development spoke of the rapid development around Issyk-Kul’s shores, where a new facility specifically designed for world-class sporting competitions has risen to meet the championship’s exacting standards. What struck observers was the emphasis on environmental stewardship. Kubatov acknowledged the volunteers who spent recent weeks cleaning the lake’s surroundings, underlining that protecting Issyk-Kul’s unique ecology sits front and centre in planning.
Nicolò di San Germano, who founded F1H2O over forty years ago, took that environmental message further. He stressed his personal commitment to preserving clean water, recognising that without pristine conditions, powerboat racing simply cannot exist. For a man who has spent four decades building the championship into a global operation, bringing the sport to Central Asia for the first time clearly carries real significance. “We’re expanding into a region where we’ve never raced before,” his remarks conveyed, speaking to the championship’s ambitions beyond Europe and traditional racing strongholds.
The expansion appears likely to continue. Raimondo di San Germano, CEO of H1O Racing, dropped a telling detail during the press conference. Representatives from neighbouring Central Asian countries have already made contact, keen to explore hosting their own F1H2O Grand Prix events. Kyrgyzstan, in his view, has proven itself a capable pioneer for the region, demonstrating readiness to stage competitions of genuine international standing.
Three drivers addressed journalists at the same conference. Shaun Torrente, Stefan Arand, and Marit Stromoy outlined their ambitions for the race and the wider season, though the real work begins tomorrow when the full driver grid hits the water for free practice sessions. Those 220km/h hydroplanes will test Issyk-Kul’s open water for the first time, with drivers and engineers gathering data ahead of qualifying and racing to come.
New Zealand has long produced competitive F1H2O drivers, so this Central Asian venture will be worth watching closely. The championship continues to find new homes and new audiences, proving that circuit powerboat racing at the highest level appeals far beyond the established European and North American venues.
