The Sunseeker XS 2000 offshore powerboat racing team from Ringwood in Hampshire joins the prestigious line up for the Daily Mail British International Harmsworth Trophy in its Centennial year.

The three race Championship begins on Sunday 17 August from the Royal Motor Yacht Club at Sandbanks in Poole, Dorset.

Sunseeker XS driver Peter Dredge from Warsash, who boasts a plethora of world speed records and is the current European Endurance Champion, will again be joined by throttle man Ian Sanderson from Exbury to vie for offshore powerboat racing's equivalent to the America's Cup.

The Team are not only hoping to triumph but also to beat Sunseeker XS Racing's landlord and main contender for this year's race The Earl of Normanton.

He will be racing with David Allenby, former World Powerboat Champion and Director of Romsey based company Test Valley Group.

The rivalry does not end there, Lord Normanton and Peter will be racing against each other in the second race of the series on their shared birthday, Thursday August 21 from the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes Isle of Wight.

As in previous years they will exchange birthday cakes, but as soon as they reach for their helmets and are on the water they will become the fiercest of opponents.

With the chance of winning the Daily Mail Harmsworth Trophy in its Centennial year Lord Normanton and David's Cougar "Premier Crew" racing boat has been re-engined with mighty supercharged big block chevvies' pumping out more than 2000 horsepower to ensure they are in with a fighting chance.

Although Peter's boat is considerably slower than that of "Premier Crew" its racing pedigree makes it undoubtedly the most reliable boat on the water, with a 24-hour Round The Island (Isle of Wight) record under its belt, the team are also former holders of the Round Britain World Record.

The Sunseeker XS Racing's workshop is based on Lord Normanton's Somerley Estate and over the next year they will be preparing 25 Sunseekers, which are being built by the Poole based Sunseeker International and his team of engineering experts to rig for racing.

When we asked him if he was worried that he may have to find a new premises if he beats his landlord he replied: " We beat him last year and in 2001 and we are still here.

" In response Lord Normanton said: "We really enjoyed racing with the Sunseekers last year, but we are bored at looking at their transom, this is one of the reasons we have had our boat re-engined.

" This could end up being like the story of the tortoise and the hare!