2008 Powerboat P1 - Rounds 4 in Marseille, France

Can anyone stop the 99 Fountain Worldwide1st4boats.com team? That's the question being asked after the reigning world champion crew of James Sheppard and Craig Wilson won today's shortened Endurance race of the Grand Prix de Marseille. Their weekend haul of 200 points earned the two Britons the overall Powerboat P1 Grand Prix of the Sea victory on a wet Mediterranean Sunday.

This wasn't the Fountain team's easiest win, as they first had to come from behind and then defend their lead from a variety of challengers. "With such a great team around me, all I have to do is turn up and drive" said an elated James Sheppard.

In the most dramatic moment of the weekend, the 60 GFN Gibellato, 66 Cranefields Wine and 57 Centaurian Yachts entries were involved in a racing incident which saw the 57 Belgian Outerlimits entry make a high speed dash for the harbour with a large hole in its port quarter.

There was more heartbreak for the pre-weekend championship leading 77 Lucas Oil team as they slowed from third place in the mid-stages of the race and limped home with only one working engine.

The closing stages of the race saw the gap close dramatically between the first four boats, emphasising the value of the championship's power-to-weight regulations. Fountain eventually ran out winners, with GFN Gibellato in second and Pignolo 53 in third.

Fountain Worldwide now move into a clear lead that could get even bigger if they recover the 100 points they lost in the Italian Grand Prix of the Sea Sprint race in appeal.