Ex-UIM F1 H2O driver Michael Weckstrom, who raced on the world tour back in the early 2000’s, is coming back to the 2021 tour, not as a driver but as a proud father as his son Alec Weckstrom is joining Gillman Racing after signing a three year contract with the organization.
The young Weckstrom is coming off a spectacular 2020 F4 season and stepping up to the world’s premiere in-shore catamaran series the UIM F1 H2O World Championship.
The young driver from Helsinki, Finland was a star in the sport of Karting at age eight and holding his own while racing on both the Finnish and European Championship tours against such current F1 stars as Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lance Stroll and Lando Norris until the age of 13.
Switching gears, Alec got into stunts and Supermoto racing with the KTM 125cc karts eventually electing to follow in his fathers footsteps and taking up the challenge of powerboat racing in 2019.
Just two years, into his powerboat racing career and Alec has already made a name for himself in the sport. In his fifth ever event, he took pole position, deep diving himself back to last position only to charge his way back up into the lead eventually finishing second in the North European championship.
Later, last summer, Alec really established himself by finishing runner-up in last years F4 World Championship in Viverone, Italy in only his seventh career start.
“I’m so excited about moving up to F1 and work with four-time World Champion Scott Gillman whom I know is a true legend in the sport,” said Alec. “It’s truly a learning curve, but also having many time North American champion Greg Foster as my teammate, between Scott and Greg there are over 12 F1 titles earned so I couldn’t ask for a better set of teachers in my upcoming rookie season.”
Father Michael, who raced during the 2002 and 2003 UIM F1 H2O campaigns, was known as a hard charging campaigner. In just the 2002, his rookie season the elder Weckstrom moved up a total of 28 places in his four races from his qualifying position off the dock to eventual race position results at days end for the Fin.
“I feel this three year program is just perfect for Alec. He will be with a team of winners and past champions and this should get him into the right frame of mine at the start of his career,” said Michael.
“I’m so proud of what Alec has been able to accomplish in such a short time and I know he’s been dreaming of this since he was eight years old. He’s determined to find success in the sport but it will take time. As a family, we are totally ‘over the moon’ with excitement.”
The Weckstrom family will be the fourth father-son lineage to be involved in the sport. It began in the early 1990’s when father Bill Seebold the legendary driver from the USA, had his son Michael join the series winning in Johore Bahru in 1994. Younger brother Tim, a multi-time North American champion raced on tour in 2010.
Current UIM F1 H2O driver Cedric Deguisne of France is following in his father’s footsteps in F1, Jean-Vital Deguisne, who is the manager of the Maverick Racing Team.
Winning driver Fabio Comparato, who had 100 race starts in his career, is steering his son Alberto as he starts his 2nd season, after finishing 10th in the championship in 2019 for the native of Chioggia, Italy.
Filip Roms of the Sharjah Team, along with another Finnish rookie Kalle Vippo joining championship runner-up Jonas Andersson with Team Sweden.
The 2021 UIM F1 H2O World Championship series for power boating is scheduled to start its campaign on the 11-13 of June in Cagliari, Italy depending on the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic as it relates to Italy. The official statement will be coming shortly to kick off the 37th season and the historic 40th Grand Prix in Italy.
