THE national hovercraft racing Championship returns to the Waterside next weekend.

Thrills and spills like the one Plaitford teenager Matthew Foster suffered at Gang Warily, Fawley, last year, pictured right, are likely to be on the agenda again.

Next weekend's event is the third round of the 2006 national championships and more than 80 hovercraft are expected to compete.

The southern branch of the national association, who have organised the event at Gang Warily, is pinning most of its hopes for world success on the Foster family.

Last year, 15-year-old Colin Foster was crowned national junior champion - achieved in a hovercraft that was under-powered in comparison with others in the same formula.

For the first time next weekend, however, he will have a brand new craft. The Python hull will have twin fans, one for lift and the other for thrust, driven by a single Yamaha motorcycle engine, which will have half as much power again as his old engine.

Having missed the first two meetings, he knows he is unlikely to retain his national title in 2006 but is instead concentrating on the World Championships.

Colin's brother, 18-year-old Matthew, will also be competing in a new craft. His will also have a Python hull and twin fans but will have 100 horsepower Polaris engine.

This combination will make him very competitive in Formula 2 with the target again being success in the World Championships.

Father Kevin Foster has not only built new craft with his sons over the winter but has also extensively rebuilt his own after it was badly damaged in a spectacular accident at the Whittlesey meeting last year.

He will be racing for the first time this season in the Formula 503 section for hovercraft powered by a Rotax air-cooled 500cc engine.

Designer of current Formula I World, European and National Championship winning hovercraft is Conrad Beale from Banbury.

Large crowds are expected for the event, with course-side car parking available. Spectator entry is free.

Practice starts from 9.30am each day.

Racing is from 1pm on Saturday and 11.30am on Sunday and bank holiday Monday.