Brisbane based race boat design and building company GTR Race Boats has released a new Formula 2 race hull.

Designed expressly for the Mercury SST120 race engine, the new GTR Formula 2 hull is available to racers both in Australia and internationally.

The driving force behind GTR Race Boats is Bob Trask. 

“We see enormous opportunity with this new hull both in Australia and emerging nations in Asia where powerboat racing is becoming increasingly popular,” Bob Trask said.

When it comes to going fast on the water, Australian Formula 1 racer Bob Trask knows all about hulls, engines and race winning performance.  The Brisbane based Trask is not only a world respected F1 driver, but he is also the designer, builder and team owner of the GTR Race Boats that he uses on both the Australian F1 Superboat series and the UIM F1 World series.

The new Formula 2 hull from GTR Race Boats is modelled on the same race winning design principals as Bob’s own F1 hull. 

“For racing with the SST140 engine in Formula 2, I have shortened the hull waterline length and also shifted the driver’s seat aft for better hull balance,” Bob said.

“With the SST140 fitted we ran the new boat straight out of the factory at 103 mph.  Given some prop development time and more hull tuning and balancing, the top speed will be even faster again.”

At the first out race meeting, the new GTR Formula 2 race hull performed beyond expectations.  The boat was raced at the Penrith round of the Australian F1 Superboat series.

Racing in with the F1 boats with driver Tim Robbins at the wheel, the new GTR Formula 2 boat returned the fastest lap time of the three Formula 2 boats competing.  The GTR Formula  2 boat had a fastest lap time of 45.62, the second Formula 2 boat was 46.69 and the third 48.80.

“Formula 2 is the ideal entrée to the world of high speed tunnel boat racing,” Bob Trask said.  “The GTR composite fibreglass hull is strong and very robust so it will have a long life and withstand the rigours of tough boat racing.”

GTR Race Boats not only is responsible for the development and construction of the new Formula 2 hull, but all aspects of rigging and race preparation.  GTR Race Boats is also a fully authorised Mercury Hi-Performance dealer.

For the 2007 season Bob Trask’s son Grant will be stepping up from his Formula 3 hull to race in the Formula 2 class with his own GTR Formula 2 race hull.