After a promising debut national season in 2007, The JC Racing Team felt it was a natural progression to test themselves against the worlds best by competing at international events in 2008.
With all the other international drivers using GRM and VRP 350cc engines, that have the ability to generate more top end speed when compared to the Konig and Konny engines the JC Racing Team use, it was going to be a big challenge.
With the 350cc World Championships being held at Stewartby Lakes, the JC Racing Team saw this as an ideal event to compete against the best hydroplane racers in the world. With the likes of Alessandro Cremona, Salavtore Chuiri, Marion Jung, Guisseppi Rossi, Paul Jillings and Nigel Edwards all racing it was going to be a very competitive weekend.
With the GRM and VRP 350cc engines showing there additional power around the long course of Stewartby, Julian and the JC Racing Team had to settle for 13th place in qualifying with the 5 port Konig powered hydroplane.
The first heat saw Julian make up two places to finish in 11th position, but the second race saw a significant improvement driving the Konig powered Andick hydroplane to its full potential saw the JC Racing Team take 7th place.
With high winds postponing racing the second day the JC Racing Team finished a creditable 9th place overall on their international debut with the 350cc World title going to Alessandro Cremona of Italy.
The JC Racing Team also travelled to Holland later in the year to compete in the Powerseal Cup on Lake Bijiland. Once again the GRM and VRP engines had that additional power but Julian drove to the 350cc Konig powered hydroplane to it's maximum, taking 5th overall from nine competitors.
On the national scene the JC Racing Team had another successful year being crowned national 350cc Sprint Champion, and also being runner up in the national championship series that once again was won by the ever consistent Wayne Turner.
Back home on the local circuit of Oulton Broad Julian claimed the King of the Broads trophy for the third consecutive year and added the magnificent Earle Howe trophy that dates back to 1931 to the JC Racing Teams trophy cabinet.
Competing on the international stage it had become clear that to progress further the JC Racing Team had to consider moving to a GRM or VRP engine to give the team that extra top end speed on the larger circuits in order to be competitive.
