Negotiator can reach speeds of up to 160 mph

Plymouth Sound plays host to 10 boats lining up for the Honda British Grand Prix, which takes place on Sunday.

It is a big race for Plymouth-based driver Chris Parsonage, who lives in Cornwall, when he takes to the water in his 160mph race boat, Negotiator.

However, the favourite is defending world champion Spirit Of Norway, led by Steve Curtis from Southampton.

We've a great team now - hopefully, everyone will come out and support us Chris Parsonage

The event is Round 3 of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship and Round 3 of the UIM Class 1 European Championship.

Steve Curtis is looking to make it three wins out of three in 2004 and to extend his unbeaten run to eight.

Curtis has won the world title five times, has won 24 Grands Prix and currently leads the 2004 title race.

However, he missed out on first place in Plymouth last year, something he hopes will change.

He said: "Last season was unbelievable because we won pretty much everything.

"Plymouth was the only race we didn't win. That was disappointing because it was on home ground. But we feel hopeful this year."

He will be joined by team-mate, Norwegian Bjorn Gjelsten.

Spirit of Norway is favourite to win

Chris Parsonage, a 46-year-old property developer based at Sutton Harbour, has teamed up with throttle man Peter McGrath, 48, from New Zealand, to contest the world championship.

They got off to a great start, finishing third in the opening race in Lisbon, Portugal in May. But disaster struck in Alicante, Spain, last month, when one of the engines on their 160mph catamaran Negotiator blew up.

Parsonage said: "We're going there to try and win this one. We were third in Lisbon, but we're out to win this one.

"We've put a lot of time and effort into the event over the last four years and have a great team now. So, hopefully, everyone will come out and support us."

Practice starts at 1000 BST on Sunday, with the big race getting under way at 1400 BST.