SOUTHAMPTON'S world champion powerboat star Steve Curtis has failed in his bid to become the most successful racer in the sport's history.

He was bidding for a win in the Superfund Class 1 World Championship British Grand Prix race off Plymouth at the weekend that would have seen him draw level with Saeed Al Tayer on 18 class triumphs.

But Curtis has won the world crown four times to Al Tayer's two.

Curtis and his Norwegian driver, Bjorn Gelsten, finished second in their Spirit of Norway behind winners Ali Al Qama and Ahmed Al Tayer in Victory 7.

As a result, they stretched their championship lead after three rounds to 16 points.

"We were beaten by the better team. Victory did a fantastic job," said Curtis. "We knew they would be tough to beat as their boat is longer and heavier and the rough conditions outside the breakwater really suited them.

Third place went to Bill Barry-Cotter and Peter McGrath in Maritimo Offshore who staved off a race long challenge from Saeed Al Tayer and Mohammed Al Marri in Victory 77.

Curtis and Gjelsten had won the previous day's Pole Position race off Plymouth.