Maidstone's Ben Jelf set to battle it out in F1H2O World Powerboat Championship in the United Arab Emirates, Sharjah

Maidstone’s British hopeful Ben Jelf is set to battle it out in the final two races of the F1H2O World Powerboat Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

Held in Sharjah, the season finale will see a double-header in the pinnacle class and 22-year-old Jelf will be the only British competitor in the final two rounds of this year’s World Championship.

Jelf will partner Portuguese driver Duarte Benavente in the F1 Atlantic team. He will be the youngest-ever British driver to take the starting grid in the F1H2O Championship.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, father and uncle, he is the third generation of Jelf Racing to reach the heights of F1 Powerboat Racing and is relishing the challenge.

“For me, this is what dreams are made of and I’ve been dreaming of this as long as I can remember,” he said.

“I’m so lucky to be given this opportunity to be able to compete in what is the top of our sport.

“I have a great family and team that have helped me every step of my racing career and this opportunity is down to their hard work and dedication. Not many powerboat racers get an opportunity like this, as finding sponsorship here in the UK is extremely hard.

“So, hopefully, I can do everybody proud.”

Jelf and team will compete in the Grand Prix of Sharjah - today and tomorrow - and the Grand Prix of the Middle East on Sunday where he will line-up with around 20 competitors.