Ready-Steady-Go... third race is surely time to go

No. 1 was Malta, the beginning of an exciting season where all participants were anxious to start the new championship with high hopes and aspirations believing they were 'Ready' for the big challenge.

No. 2 was Naples, where after the Malta Experience, all the 'opening' misfortunes and shortcomings had to be set right and put on a 'Steady' course to secure the high opinion and rating of real contenders.

No. 3, it's now Travemunde on the German Baltic, midway through a thrilling and varied championship where the approach and endeavour have definitely to be given a full 'Go', otherwise it could make the rest of the campaign too much to keep up with.

One of the prime characteristics of the Powerboat P1 World Championship is that, besides promoting powerboat racing and bringing to the forefront the men and machines that provide the spectacle, it is serving as a marketing platform to the various signature-venues associated with the event.

A truly exclusive promotion exercise, a significant global TV exposure attained through a wide-ranging distribution network comprising 70 countries worldwide.

Valletta, Naples and Cowes are probably more familiar names than Travemunde, Zeebrugge and Portimao. Yet, all these localities have one common correlation - they are all seaside resort destinations presenting distinctive characteristics and sharing the enthusiasm brought about by the spirit of the 2007 Powerboat P1 Championship.

The German Grand Prix, to be staged this weekend, is bound to be another crowd-puller attraction.

Over 80,000 people are expected to throng the supreme promenades of this famous Baltic holiday resort. Travemunde, a P1 destination for the third consecutive year, should give that 'spark of fire' to the two German boats on the circle.

Searex, the proud possession of German businessman Siegfried Greve whose interest in marine motorsport began in the early 70's, started the 2007 season in the SuperSport class.

With improvements carried out on the boat and engines - a 42ft Fountain powered by Mercury engines - the team will race in the Evolution Class for the remainder of the season.

Naue Racing, a 'Wild Card' entry, is the second German boat having Fabian Kalsow and Anton Naue as crew, and will be challenging in the SuperSport category with their Yanmar-powered Sunseeker XS2000.

Donzi mishap

Last year's Evolution Class champions, the Italian OSG Donzi team of Giancarlo Cangiano and Giovanni Carpitella, are most keen to go back on the circuit after missing precious points at the Italian Grand Prix following a dramatic crash which saw the boat rocking from port to starboard before flipping onto its side.

Luckily, both pilots emerged unscathed, although wet and shaken.

P1's most distinguished powerboat racer and Evolution Class champion in 2005, Hannes Bohinc with Wettpunkt.com, still believes that "in business and racing matters, it is the same: no risk no fun".

Meanwhile the Austrian team owner is definitely having fun as he leads the category with 260 points where he is pleased with his new boat's performance yet he believes that "this boat can even go better".

Angelo Tedeschi - team owner and throttleman of Racing Project - gave a striking demonstration in front of his townsmen when he won the Italian GP in Naples and strengthened his pre-season predictions that his new boat would make him a serious contender this season.

This situation is also giving great satisfaction to Maltese boat-constructors Chaudron, builders of the stunning 41-footer Racing Project leading the Supersport category with 300 points.

"Racing Project is performing well and should continue with its positive run even in Travemunde, where some rough conditions are expected, a favourable situation for Tedeschi's boat," remarked Aaron Ciantar of the Chaudron set-up.

Referring to their position with regards to Casino Portomaso Chaudron, Ciantar looked positively at their first two outings this season.

"We are presently in fourth place with 170 points. For the German GP we have changed the propellers which should make the boat steadier. We still believe we could challenge for the top honour," he said.

Meanwhile, the line-ups of the two categories for the German GP of the Sea are:

Evolution Class: Skater Racing Team (Italy), Limmi Offshore Racing (Belgium), Team Ranas (Italy), Metamarine Corse (Italy), Searex Germany (Germany), Wettpunkt.com (Austria), OSG Racing (Italy), Trident Corse (Italy), Outerlimits Powerboats (USA) and Fountain Worldwide (UK).

SuperSport Class: Extremeboat (UK), SergioCarpentieri.com (Italy), VoomVoom.com (UK), Ocean Dragon Racing (UK-China), Naue Racing (Germany), Team Sunseeker (UK), Racing Project (Italy), Casino Portomaso Chaudron (Malta) and Bullet Racing (UK).