Frode Sundsdal and Joyce Christine Andersen, the organiser’s of the Tønsberg Båtrace, have officially announced today that their event next year will not host a round of the UIM F2 World Championship.

Tønsberg hosted F2 World Championship racing for seven years after the event was originally set up in 2013 as an UIM International Ordinary race.

Sundsdal told me today:

Obviously, before I took this decision I have agreed with a number of the top F2 teams that they will come to Tønsberg next year to race and help with the development of our sport and ensure its progression.

Not everyone will agree with our decision, but we are making a bold statement, we are turning down World Championship status to make our Tønsberg Båtrace event even better.

He continued to explain that during the recent UIM F2 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, he had talks with Thomas Kurth, the Secretary General of the UIM:

Right now, the current UIM rules and format for a F2 weekend do not suit our vision.

We want to improve the viewing experience for the spectators in Tønsberg and take the event to the next level.

Finally, Sundsdal noted:

We are leaving the communication channels wide open with the UIM with regards to our format next year.