P1 keen to consolidate 2008 success

In a fast-moving championship, full of celebrities, Powerboat P1 managing director Jim O'Toole, who spent his early days with P1 listening and learning through extensive consultations with the teams and all the people that mattered, acted swiftly by issuing a clear strategy for the future of the championships in both classes, SuperSport and Evolution.

Invariably with plenty of Irish gusto, enthusiasm, handling experience, and with more than a personal drive, he insists that this was a challenging year for Powerboat P1 with its rapid growth. The way forward for O'Toole was to apply his plan with a sense of realism and dedication from all sides, namely the P1 administration and participants.

Charting some of the highs and lows and the thrills that made this year's World Championships the best ever in recent memory, O'Toole has declared that he wants to consolidate the European venues that have been a success, Malta in particular.

"This year," he kept insisting "(we saw) good development process, the teams' sheer investment, resources, efforts from all... this will eventually be a step forward, so our job is to give them worldwide exposure and respect."

This says it all. Comments like this from a man who, until a year ago, did not even know that P1 existed but is now so committed to its long-term success, encourage me to think that the future of powerboating is indeed bright.

Competition in both classes this year was at times breathtaking and participants have fought with vigour and professional driving. We have witnessed fast and gruelling racing, sometimes in rough seas, but safety was always the top priority to the point that each race provided a spectacle, enjoyed by thousands of spectators, particularly in the last phase of the competition.

Outstanding was Boat 99 in Evolution Class, Fountain Worldwide. The British crew of pilot James Sheppard and Craig Wilson were a step ahead of their rivals, although it has to be said that this formidable team experienced some problems in Malta and Tunisia.

More appealing to the Maltese seafaring community was the feat of Aaron Ciantar and Italian team-mate, throttleman Angelo Tedeschi who powered their 44 Conam Yachts (a Maltese-built Chaudron boat) with perfect pace and reliability and were never beaten on the track this year. Nicknamed the "untouchables", Ciantar and Tedeschi won each and every race, bar one due to a penalty jump start, in convincing style.

Local boy Ciantar is currently hot property in powerboating circles. I know of at least two teams who are trying to clinch his signature to pilot their boat next year in the SuperSport Class.

Aaron will do well to enjoy his first world championship in Malta by keeping up his progress with future careful planning as he is accustomed to. His next target is to capture the Evolution world championship title now. That I reckon will happen in the next two to three years. Ciantar has the ability to reach his next goal and the other teams know it too. He is pure championship breed.

"These are exciting times for all those associated with P1," O'Toole enthused recently. "We shall thrive to deliver the right mix of sporting, commercial, technical, marketing and event management.

"We will soon announce the most exciting calendar in the history of P1 with record line-ups of teams in both classes next year.

"Malta will be one of our priorities... fingers crossed that we will get it right again for the sake and benefit of world champion Aaron Ciantar and also for all the Maltese powerboat followers who are now even engaged by following P1 overseas."

After five years of product and brand development in Europe, Powerboat P1 is now entering the phase of commercial and franchise growth.

No wonder that P1 has invested in a new, high-calibre management team with sports marketing and commercial expertise to take P1 to upgraded levels.