Ciantars go head-to-head in Malta GP

The Grand Harbour will again provide the setting for the opening round of the 2009 Powerboat P1 World Championship as the Malta Grand Prix of the Sea is held between May 8 and 10.

Valletta has become synonymous with the P1 championship as this is the sixth successive year that the offshore racing series is being held here.

This year's grand prix has added flavour for local water sport enthusiasts as it was confirmed yesterday that Supersport world champion Aaron Ciantar, along with his racing partner Angelo Tedeschi, will be defending his title in a competitive field that also includes his sister Audrienne. She will be part of Britain's all-woman Racing Project team.

Robert Wicks, Commercial Director at Powerboat P1, yesterday told reporters he was not surprised that the Malta Grand Prix of the Sea has been on the circuit for so many years. The race, he said, enjoyed huge popularity among the P1 racing community.

"It's always a great pleasure for us to return here," Wicks said at the Valletta Waterfront launching.

"The facilities are excellent and the climate conditions are OK. It's a great joy for us to be part of this great spectacle of powerful racing in Malta.

"Thanks to Aaron Ciantar the popularity of our sport in Malta has increased and that helped to put the island on the world racing map. This year, the Maltese will have an added incentive as Audrienne Ciantar will be back in the Supersport class."

Wicks said 16 teams will be involved in the Malta Grand Prix of the Sea. Among the new entrants is Team 26, of the UK, composed of Dan Cramphorn and throttleman Kim Collins. First indications point to a strong challenge from Team 26 to title holders Ciantar and Tedeschi, winners of the 2008 Supersport class for Italian team Conam Yachts.

This year, Ciantar and Tedeschi will be racing for a new team, Seagull, owned by Ukrainian businessman Victor Shemchuk. The Mercury-powered Chaudron is the latest creation of the Ciantar family.

Seagull will not be the only Chaudron in the 2009 championship as Audrienne and team partner Shelley Jory will be racing on the same Chaudron boat of Conam Yachts last year.

Aaron Ciantar has made no secret of his ambitions for 2009.

"When you are the world champion there is only one objective - to retain your status," Ciantar said.

"We know that most of the other teams will want to mount a strong challenge this year but I'm very pleased with the performances of our new boat."

Audrienne Ciantar is glad to be making a comeback in the sport after a short stint stranded on the shoreline.

"I'm really excited for the new season," she said.

"Our expectations are very high as we are going to race with a title-winning boat. I have great respect for my brother but I will do all I can to beat him on the water."

All teams are expected to arrive next week with the opening practice sessions scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

The first leg of the Malta Grand Prix of the Sea, a 70-mile Endurance Race, will be held on Saturday, May 9. A 40-mile sprint race is scheduled for the next day.

The Maltese race is the first of six on the P1 calendar with Turkey, Italy, Sweden, Sicily and Bahrain the other hosts this year. Croatia will be added to the championship next year.

Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco, also present for the launching, revealed that the government had struck an agreement to broadcast the Malta Grand Prix of the Sea on Italy's RaiSport.

"This TV coverage agreement with RaiSport is a great coup in our efforts to expose the islands as an ideal tourist destination," Dr De Marco said.

"Italy is our third largest market for tourism and RaiSport enjoys a very wide viewership in our neighbouring country. This partnership will help us to attract more visitors to Malta."

The race will also be broadcast on Eurosport, South Africa's Super Sport and Viasat, the Swedish TV station.