Jeremy Gibson has raised the British OCRDA F1 speed record by nearly six miles per hour on the opening day of Coniston Records Week 2026.
(OCRDA F1 is a distinct racing category and should not be confused with Formula 1 circuit powerboat racing.)
Organisers announced a speed of 76.55mph (123.20km/h) during Monday's running on Coniston Water in Cumbria, England. The previous British benchmark of 70.60mph was set by Bob McCarthy in 2024. Gibson's mark represents an improvement of approximately 8.4 per cent.
He did not reach the speed on his first attempt. Earlier he produced 71.55mph, already ahead of McCarthy's record, before his subsequent run added another five miles per hour.
Aaron Hilton and Lisa Johnston established a new British national record in Experimental Pro Cat Diesel, with organisers announcing an initial speed of 42.92mph followed by an improved mark of 43.57mph (70.12km/h). The record book has no previous British speed for this class, making Hilton's opening figure a newly established benchmark.
Ben and Sophie Holehouse also claimed a British national record in Group A HOCR Sports Boats Max 300hp aboard their Phantom 19, Bandit. However, organisers' updates contain an inconsistency: one announcement reported 79.78mph (128.39km/h), while a subsequent post described 79.03mph (127.19km/h) as an increase. Whichever record stands, Holehouse should be happy. Both figures exceed Helen Loney's 2024 British benchmark of 74.44mph. Loney's mark also appears as a world record in the supplied record book, so potentially a world record has been broken as well.
In Pro Cat Modified, Alex Partridge and Malachy Browne improved their announced mark from 55.87mph to 56.37mph (90.72km/h) after swapping driving positions, with Browne taking the wheel for the faster run.
The five-day meeting moved to Coniston in 2005 after Windermere introduced a 10mph speed limit, with the tradition beginning on Windermere in 1970. Unlike circuit racing, competitors attempt to establish or improve speed records within their respective classes on Coniston's surveyed kilometre course.
Organisers reported favourable conditions near the launch area on Monday, though patrol boats checked for fog banks elsewhere along the course before running could proceed. Paul Hart in Formula 500 was the first driver onto the measured course, though his speed was not included in supplied updates.
The event continues Tuesday with an 8am GMT restart. Running is scheduled through Friday 6 November, with the final run required to begin no later than 2pm GMT.
