The powerboat racing world is returning to China’s waterways, with Shanghai set to host the third round of the 2026 UIM Formula 1 championship later this year. After Jonas Andersson’s solo victory on the same waters twelve months ago, the northern Baoshan district will once again provide the stage for hydroplane racing at its most intense.
H2O Racing has confirmed final preparations are underway in partnership with Shanghai Baoshan District People’s Government. The paddock opens officially on Saturday, October 3, with driver registration and technical scrutineering commencing immediately. This timing gives teams two days to prepare before racing begins in earnest on Sunday.
Sunday’s schedule packs considerable action into a single day. Two Free Practice sessions run at 8am and 9.30am local time, allowing drivers to dial in their single-seat hydroplanes on the circuit. Qualifications follow at 12.15pm, determining grid positions for the day’s racing events. The first points-scoring action comes with two Sprint Races at 3.35pm and 4.20pm, with winners heading to the podium at 4.45pm for the awarding ceremony.
Monday brings the main event. A warm-up session starts at 10am before the Grand Prix parade lap and the 3.05pm start time. The race itself determines the weekend’s ultimate champion and crowns the third round winner of the 2026 world championship, marking the series’ return to Chinese waters since last season.
For New Zealand powerboat enthusiasts, the Shanghai event offers a rare opportunity to watch elite circuit racing compete on a world stage. These hydroplanes operate at speeds exceeding 200 kilometres per hour on open water circuits, requiring pilots of exceptional skill and nerve. The championship remains the pinnacle of the sport, attracting the globe’s most talented drivers to battle for supremacy across international venues.
The advance programme confirms all session times and racing formats for teams and media planning their attendance. Shanghai’s significance in the calendar cannot be understated, particularly following Andersson’s breakthrough performance last year on the same course.
