Ciantar aiming for gold

"It's really a good feeling having the trust of world champion Angelo Tedeschi who has given me the unique opportunity to prove myself this year on board his boat... like Angelo Tedeschi I am aiming for gold this year."

These were the comments of Aaron Ciantar at the end of the Marseille Grand Prix of the Sea in which the Italo-Maltese tandem won both races to emerge as front runners for the SuperSport class title this year.

So far, the Maltese-built Conam Yachts boat is the one to beat if the other contenders wish to get to the top podium place in the 2008 World Powerboat P1 Championships.

Malta's choice as a P1 championship venue for the fifth time will give an added incentive to the local pilot not only to maintain Conam Yacht's lead in the standings but moreso to widen the gap if they manage another double success this weekend.

It is also true that Ciantar may feel extra pressure from local fans as they expect him to take the Malta Grand Prix by storm.

Ciantar told the Powerboat P1 website he and throttleman Tedeschi have been surprised by their dominant start to the season.

"At the start of the season, neither I nor Angelo thought that we would have this success in the first four races of the year," Ciantar said.

"Although Angelo won the SuperSport championship with the same Chaudron boat and Mercury engine in 2007, this is the first time that he and I have worked together. That means we started the season a little bit cautiously, but things seemed to have worked out pretty well so far!"

At present, Conam Yachts lead the standings with 300 points ahead of VoomVoom.com, 260, and Baia High Performance, 190.

Preparations at the Grand Harbour are in full swing and the official opening was held yesterday during which a parade was held prior to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's welcome speech.

The Malta Powerboat Federation is also involved in the organisation and will hold a number of jet-ski and one-metre model boat shows and races on the Grand Harbour waters.

The official launching of the Malta Grand Prix of the Sea was held last week. Present for the occasion was Jim O'Toole, the P1 Powerboat CEO.

"We are looking forward to another high-octane Malta Grand Prix of the Sea," he said.

"Malta is one of the most iconic of P1 venues and has a long-standing association with the P1 Championship."

Marketing Director Robert Wicks, also present for the occasion, added: "The level of local interest is likely to be at an all-time high as Aaron Ciantar together with reigning champion Angelo Tedeschi are leading the current SuperSport class."

Meanwhile, world fastest record holder John Tomlinson, the throttle-man with more than 35 US and world titles, will be competing for the first time ever in the P1 Championship aboard the Cigarette Racing Team boat in the Evolution class.

Tomlinson will replace long-standing friend and former mentor Lino Di Biase in the Mercury-powered 10 Fantastic 1's throttle seat alongside pilot Luca Formilli Fendi. Di Biasi will take the role of the team's technical manager.

The next Grand Prix of the 2008 series, after the one in Malta, will be held in Hammamet, Tunisia, between July 11 and 13.