Chaudron and Baia vie for P1 glory

The 2009 P1 champions will be crowned this weekend as the curtain is drawn on another action-packed year of the world's premier offshore racing series.

At around 6 p.m. tomorrow, in the Sicilian city of Siracusa, the principal scholars of the SuperSport and Evolution classes will proudly stand head and shoulders above their peers on top of the podium after an enduring season.

It's been 127 days since May's championship opener in Valletta and subsequently the breathtaking five months of racing has almost certainly written the best chapter in the competition's seven-year history.

Today, all 14 teams, plus SuperSport Class wild-card entries Team Rana, will power off Sicily's Adriatic shores for what promises to be a dramatic end to another bumpy season.

Mathematically, five teams are gunning for glory, albeit only four realistically harbour hopes of walking away with Powerboat P1 gold tomorrow.

Reigning SuperSport champions Angelo Tedeschi, Aaron Ciantar and their 2009 recruit Viktor Shemshuk currently head the open-canopy class standings by 20 points from chasing Italian trio Stefano Acanfora, Roy Capasso and Renato Guidi from Baia Attolini.

The pacesetting Seagull Chaudron triumvirate has barely put a foot wrong this year. However, their nearest challengers have momentum on their side, benefiting from a greater confidence since their maiden victory in San Benedetto del Tronto.

Given Tedeschi and Ciantar's pedigree, it would take a brave man to bet against the existing SuperSport kings.

At present, Seagull Chaudron (756 points) lead the SuperSport Class from Baia Attolini (736) with Spirit of Belgium (646) in pole position to finish third given their 113-point lead from Team SW1 Capital (533).

Evolution battle

The big tactical debate in Evolution will be the examination between Silverline's reliable Stirling engine and the raw pace and championship mettle of SNAV OSG.

The British team of Drew Langdon and Jan Falkowski hold a 75-point lead going into the weekend despite not finishing in the top two all season.

Evolution victors three years ago, OSG have powered past the chequered flag in first position in four of the eight races this season.

The Italians realistically need to win both races and claim the 50-point reliability bonus on offer and hope Silverline suffer the unthinkable to get their paws on the title.

Silverline (646 points) currently lead the Evolution standings ahead of SNAV OSG (571) with Cigarette Smash Poker (542) an outside bet in third position.