Top > Sport > 2005 > August > 2005-08-08

First victory by non-American in 55 years of hydroplane race

The French Canadian fellow in yellow stole the thunder at Seafair on Sunday. Jean Theoret, a cool and confident pro from Montreal, darted to a wire-to-wire victory in the Chevrolet Cup unlimited hydroplane race on Lake Washington. Theoret, driving the U-8 Llumar Window Film hydro, ran away from perennial champion Dave Villwock and the U-16 Miss Elam in the five-lap final in front of hundreds of thousands of sun-baked fans.

The resounding win was both historical and sentimental. No foreign driver had won in the 55 years of the Seafair race. No foreigner had won on American waters since 1961, and no rookie driver in the unlimited ranks had won in his first try at Seattle since Jim Ranger pulled the trick aboard My Gypsy in 1966. Theoret averaged 137.448 mph for his first career unlimited victory.

"I`m very humble. I am so blessed," said the 43-year-old Theoret, a world champion Grand Prix driver before getting the shot to race unlimiteds. "I don`t like to brag, but we beat the defending champion today. We beat Dave Villwock."