Powerboat racer George Elmore had to settle for a fifth-placed finish at the GT30 European Championships as bad weather led to racing being cancelled.

Twenty of the world’s best GT30 Powerboat racers representing eight nationalities were due to compete over four heats in the north of Italy in a fight for the European title.

But on Sunday officials decided to cancel the day’s racing on safety grounds, meaning the European Championship was decided on Saturday’s heats finishing positions.

Chatham’s Elmore was fifth but felt he was primed to improve.

He said: “It was disappointing that we couldn’t race on Sunday. The officials made the right call but (fellow Brit) Ashley Penfold and I had found some extra speed in free practice and we were both confident we could challenge for podium places.”

He added: “I’m happy with fifth but would have liked to see what I could have done over the three other heats.

“I’d like to thank my team for all their support and I’d like to congratulate Ash on his bronze medal. He raced really well and really deserved a podium finish.”

Saturday’s free practice had left Elmore sixth fastest but with a one and a half seconds behind the lead boat he was looking for extra speed.

A few adjustments to his set-up and the youngster was raring to go for the hour-long qualifying session. Although the conditions were great for racing, 20 boats hitting the lake’s surface saw the water churn up and create taxing conditions for the whole heat.

As the minutes of the session dwindled away Elmore chose the lines reading the conditions and by his 11th lap he’d secured himself fifth on the grid for heat one.

He battled hard but with a throttle pedal problem he was forced to finish in sixth but a course infringement by the boat in second saw him promoted up a place.

Sunday would see the teams compete in free practice followed by the remaining three heats with the best three results to count. Elmore was raring to go and with his throttle pedal fixed he was all set. He was the second-fastest boat in free practice behind Penfold.

Twenty minutes after the free practice session finished a squalling wind produced unraceable conditions forcing the event to be placed on hold for a break in the weather, which never came.