#77 Lucas Oil pilot Shelley Jory has said that she definitely made the right decision to step up from the Honda Formula 4 championship to Powerboat P1’s Evolution class this year, saying that the experience she has gained while racing to three podium finishes during the course of the 2008 season has proved invaluable.

Jory is the first woman to pilot an Evolution class boat in Powerboat P1’s history, but she has more than proved herself this year alongside team boss and throttleman Nigel Hook, with a second- and third-place finish in Italy and a final podium of the season in Vigo, Spain, on their way to sixth place in the championship standings. As a result, Jory is already making plans to return to the class next year.

“It has been an absolutely amazing experience racing in Powerboat P1 this year,” Jory said. “It was definitely the right decision not to take a year off, and to jump straight into the Evolution class. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, and I’ve learned a lot – especially from Nigel and our engineer, William Moore. Nigel and I have worked well together, and we’re talking about next year. Otherwise, I’m desperately trying to raise sponsorship and looking at every opportunity.”