All set to go
IT's all happening again. The Grand Prix of Malta at the P1 Worlds is now in its fourth edition, three years that have established our islands as a main signature venue of a prestigious championship on the Union Inter-national Motonautique (UIM)...
IT's all happening again. The Grand Prix of Malta at the P1 Worlds is now in its fourth edition, three years that have established our islands as a main signature venue of a prestigious championship on the Union Inter-national Motonautique (UIM) calendar of world powerboat racing.
Three hectic seasons that have also confirmed the championship's potential to associate a spectacular type of sport such as that of powerboat racing with discerning locations resulting in a resourceful marketing exercise of sport tourism.
Sixteen multi-national teams will be split in two categories with seven boats featuring in the Evolution Class where Austrian Hannes Bohinc in Wettpunkt.com is determined to retain the champion's title he won last year.
The Supersport Class will definitely be producing a new champion this season as the team of last year's winner Jolly Drive are presenting a new boat in the Class 9-team line-up. A particular attraction in this Class is Ocean Dragon, the first team ever on the P1 circuit hailing from China with Martin Lai at the helm.
Following the positive experience gained over the past three years where in 2005 they even finished third overall in their class, Malta's Chaudron have high ambitions this season.
With a newly launched, more powerful and stronger boat, the Portomaso Chaudron 33 team, in their striking yellow colour, are keen to make their baptism of fire at the Grand Prix of Malta a success which should augur well for the six-event championship.
For the past three championships, Audrien Ciantar has been the only female ambassador on the circuit, yet this year the 'fairer sex' will be fielding a stronger representation with the presence of two other female protagonists - Britain's Jackie Hunt, on ARPRO, and Belgian Julie Hemelaar, on Flanders Offshore Racing.
The 16 teams geared up for the Malta Grand Prix and their respective Classes are:
Evolution Class - 64 Fainplast (Italy), 66 Kerakoll (Italy), 76 Thuraya (Italy), 81 Wettpunkt.com (Austria), 38ZR Donzi 38ZR (Italy), 90 Trident Kiton (Italy) and 99 FORtwo (Belgium).
SuperSport Class - 8 Ocean Dragon (China), 20 EMMECIDUE FPT (Italy), 21 Italcraft XT3 (Italy), 33 FORone (Belgium), 44 OBA OBA Racing (Italy), 46 Portomaso Chaudron (Malta), 47 Buzi Bullet (Britain), 50 Jolly Special (Italy) and 55 ARPRO (Britain).
The Grand Prix of Malta being staged over next weekend will be made up of an Endurance event on Saturday, that incorporates the round-the-island speed challenge, and a shorter Rally race on Sunday which utilises a circuit just off the Sliema promenade that has been specially designed to maximise spectator enjoyment.
During the weekend the teams will be based at the P1 Village at the Valletta Waterfront, where a festival atmosphere with the glamour and excitement of a major international event will be much in evidence.
For the entertainment of the crowds the two races of the Powerboat P1 Grand Prix of Malta will be supported by an action-packed programme of on-and-off water activities, including a series of additional racing events within the waters of the Grand Harbour.
The UIM Powerboat P1 World Championship is organised by London-based KBL Powerboat Management Ltd. For the Powerboat P1 Grand Prix of Malta 2006, KBL has secured main sponsorship business agreements with the Malta Tourism Authority, Air Malta, Go Mobile and Sign-it.