Wiberg shines as UIM Powerboat World Champions honoured at annual awards ceremony

Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg, powerboating’s first ever female winner of the UIM F2 World Championship, was crowned Driver of the Year when the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the world governing body for international powerboat racing, hosted its annual awards in Monaco on March 7.
History-making Wiberg from Åkersberga received her award from UIM President Dr Raffaele Chiulli, while Estonian teenager Paul Richard Laur collected the UIM Junior Driver of the Year award following a season that saw him win the UIM GT-15 Junior World Championship.

“This is such an incredible honour,” said 22 year-old Wiberg, who has competed in powerboat racing since 2016, building experience across
offshore and circuit disciplines.

“To win the F2 World Championship was a dream come true but to receive the UIM Driver of the Year award with my family beside me is extra special. I want to ask to all the young girls in our sport to keep on believing – anything is possible. For me, it is to go on
from here and one day try to win the F1 world title.”

The UIM Junior Driver of the Year award topped a remarkable season in UIM GT-15 for 16 year-old Laur who also collected the Nordic Championship and finished runner-up in the UIM GT-15 European Championship. “To get to this point takes a lot of hard work and dedication,” said Laur, whose ambition is also to ultimately challenge for the UIM F1H2O World Championship. “I’ve sacrificed a lot of my social life to be the best I can be in this sport so to win the UIM Junior Driver of the Year makes it all worthwhile.”

The annual ceremony, held to recognise the achievements of powerboat racing’s world champions, was attended by
over 200 competitors, officials and race promoters and saw over 70 drivers honoured for their achievements during the
2025 racing season in offshore powerboat racing, circuit racing, pleasure navigation, XCAT, MotoSurf, Aquabike, and
the all-electric powerboat E1 racing series.

“In the high-speed world of powerboat racing, champions aren’t made in a single race - they are forged through years
of discipline, resilience, and courage,” said UIM President Chiulli.

“As the world governing body, the UIM considers our annual awards to be the perfect opportunity to recognise the commitment and passion that drive our sport and reflect on a season where we have focused on sustainability and fair play, as well as inclusivity, equality and the development of young talent.”

Recognised on the night for securing back-to-back E1 World Championship titles were Finland’s Emma Kimilainen and British driver Sam Coleman, while American pilot Shaun Torrente collected his fourth UIM F1H2O world title. Torrente also joined UIM XCAT World Championship Sports Director Sebastiano Pellecchia to receive the UIM XCAT World Championship trophy on behalf of the UAE’s Salem Al Adidi and Eisa Al Ali who were unable to attend.

There was also industry recognition for Monaco rider Massimiliano Mordenti who in September 2025 set a new environmentally-friendly Offshore Long Distance World Record running 160km from Monaco Yacht Club to circumnavigate Gallinara Island and back in 3h:23m:29s on an aquabike powered 100% by bioethanol.

The highlight of the evening, however, was the presentation of both the UIM F2 World Championship crown and the UIM Driver of the Year award to Wiberg on the eve of International Women’s Day.

“Becoming the first woman world champion in UIM F2 is more than a personal achievement, it is a statement,” said UIM President Chiulli, after presenting Wiberg with her award.

“In a sport traditionally dominated by men, standing at the top of the podium as formula’s first female world champion carries profound responsibility. It also sends a powerful message to every young girl watching powerboat racing from afar – it says ‘you belong here – there are no limits’.”