A CHORLEY designer is hoping to make a splash in the world record books.

The powerboat team of John Lee and current Union Internationale Motonauique world record holder Jim Noone, are to team up with sponsors Door Systems Design of Bradford in the latest attempt to beat their own world water-speed record of 145.52mph in the R-infinity Hydroplane class.

The pair are due to attempt the world record on Lake Windermere in Cumbria starting Sunday October 15.

John Lee's father, Peter, started the team based at Chorley seven years ago.

Sadly, Peter died recently leaving John to design and build the impressive powerboat at their workshop on Guilford Avenue in Chorley.

Incorporating a Hawk trainer cockpit and Piper Cherokee tailfin, 'Miss Windermere VI' will be attempting to break the elusive 150mph barrier. Pilot Jim Noone said: "We came very close to 150mph last time when we attempted this.

"So two years of additional fine-tuning should see us break the record.

"Thanks to Door Systems Design the preparations have gone ahead without any problems and we are all now waiting impatiently for the big day."

Chris Jones, of Door Systems Design, said the company are proud to be associated with John Lee's record-breaking British team as sole sponsors.

"We Jim Noone and John Lee approached us, we were delighted to be asked to participate," he said.

"The success of Door Systems Design is based upon creative design, and so we were immediately drawn to the design technology surrounding this record attempt." SPEED freaks: (l-r) Jim Noone, pilot, with Chris Jones from Door Systems Design and John Lee, boat designer and builder.