(Sepang): The Malasian Grand Prix finished with a surprise victory for a British competitor today.
Despite starting slowly it was a late burst that finally won the full points for Dame Ellen MacArthur in her B&Q sponsored Formula One boat.
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| MacArthur's boat on the main straight. |
Early laps were slow leaving MacArthur running 27 laps behind after 31, but a late surge thanks to a helpful change in the weather brought the plucky Brit the top step of the podium.
"We knew we had a chance once the clouds came in," admitted the sailing Dame.
"It was slow going to begin with but we knew we were going to pick up time later on. We trusted that the teams would all make the wrong vehicle decision..."
MacArthur was proven right around the 28th lap when all the other teams kept with their original strategy of using cars.
"We just made the right choice for the race," said MacArthur's engineer, Murray Stroller. "The other teams were all staying with wheels but we knew our strategy would come good in the end."
The victory lifts MacArthur up to first place in the drivers table of the new Formula One Motor Racing and Aquaplaning Championships.