Five meetings embellished the 2009 Powerboat P1 World Championship, four of which now over with a very last exciting one to go.

Each meeting presented its own chronicle - for some Malta offered opening season anxiety, for others Turkey had lucky impulses, for some others Italy had fateful moments, and for most Sweden had determining factors.

All past four adventures are history now and only looking enthusiastically to the last decisive coming appointment counts.

Sicily, precisely Syracuse, the historical city built on an ancient Greek settlement and founded by Corinthians in 734 BC, will host the final challenge of the seventh edition of this World Championship.

Yes, the weekend of September 12-13 will not only present another water sport spectacle but will determine the illustrious winners - the P1 World Champions for 2009.

Presently who's who at the top? How sound are the leaders' lead? Will this be their best ever victory or have they already tasted such an extraordinary moment?

At each meeting two rounds of racing are held - a Sprint Race and an Endurance Race with a maximum of 100 points for each.

"As the 2009 season draws to a close we can reflect on a tremendous season with some outstanding competition in both classes and some of the most spectacular venues ever to grace the P1 calendar," remarked Robert Wicks, Commercial Director of Powerboat P1 Management Limited, while preparing to join 'the final countdown' in Sicily.

From my side I wish one and all good luck for another grand P1 spectacle but I cannot fail to add Forza Chaudron... the third victory is ever so close.

After eight rounds, the overall standings are the following where the top three boats in each Class are focused upon.

Evolution class

1. Silverline - Bullet Racing, 646 points.

The boat - Buzzi. Hull: FB42. Length: 1,281cm. Hull weight: 3,800kg.

The engine - Sterling. Configuration: TBC. Fuel: Diesel. Engine weight: 1,376kg.

The crew: Jan Falkowski (navigator) and Drew Langdon (throttle and driver).

P1 Championship victories: None.

Best result this season: Malta.

2. SNAV OSG - OSG Racing Team, 571 points.

The boat - Outerlimits Design Team. Hull: Outerlimits Powerboats. Length: 1,311cm. Hull weight: 3,740kg.

The engine - Mercury. Configuration: 2x1500. Fuel: Fuel Cell. Engine weight: 795kg.

The crew: Hannes Bohinc (driver), Giancarlo Cangiano (throttle) and Giovanni Carpitella (navigator).

P1 Championship victories: 2006 Evolution champions and 2007 runners-up.

Best result this season: Italy.

3. Cigarette Smash Poker - Cigarette the Fantastic, 500 points.

The boat - Cigarette Racing. Hull: EVO-01P1. Length: 1,310cm. Hull weight: 5,320kg.

The engine - Mercury. Configuration: 2x760bhp eight-cylinder. Fuel: Petrol. Engine weight: 782kg.

The crew: Luca Formilli Fendi (driver) and Matteo Nicolini (throttle).

P1 Championship victories: None.

Best result this season: Turkey.

Next positions: 4. Lucas Oil Budweiser 418 points; 5. Furnibo 370; 6. Cranefields Wine 205; 7. Metamarine 202.

Supersport class

1. Seagull Chaudron - Ukrainian Spirit, 764 points.

The boat - Chaudron Powerboats Malta. Hull: Chaudron 41. Length: 1,250cm. Hull weight: 3,000kg.

The engine - Ilmor. Configuration: 2xV10 570hp (1140hp). Fuel: Diesel. Engine weight: 410kg.

The crew: Aaron Ciantar (driver), Angelo Tedeschi (throttle) and Viktor Shemchuk (navigator).

P1 Championship victories: SuperSport champions in 2007 and 2008.

Best result this season: Malta/Italy.

2. Baia Attolini - Baia Attolini, 736 points.

The boat - Donzi Marine. Hull: 38ZR. Length: 1,176cm. Hull weight: 3,700kg.

The engine - Mercury. Configuration: 2 x 525hp 8.2-litre V8. Fuel: Petrol. Engine weight: 560kg.

The crew: Stefano Acanfora (driver), Renato Guidi (throttle), Roy Capasso (navigator) and Vittorio Foglia Manzillo (driver).

P1 Championship victories: None.

Best result this season: Italy.

3. MasForce - Spirit of Belgium - 646 points.

The boat - Nor-Tech/Mercury. Hull: 38 Super V. Length: 1,220cm. Hull Weight: 3,950kg.

The engine - Mercury. Configuration: 2 x 500hp. Fuel: Gas.

The crew: Patrick Huybreghts (throttle), Marc Sluszny (navigator) and Micha Robijn (driver).

P1 Championship victories: None.

Best result this season: Sweden.

Next positions: 4. Team SW1 Capital 533 points; 5. Iko Casa 451; 6. Blue Shaft 362; 7. Big Sergio 280.

Past winners

Evolution Class
2003 Rizzardi (Italy); 2004 Thuraya (Italy); 2005 Wettpunkt.com (Austria); 2006 OSG Donzi (Italy); 2007 King of Shaves (UK); 2008 King of Shaves (UK).

Supersport Class
2003 Credit Securing (Italy); 2004 Fainplast (Italy); 2005 Jolly Drive (Italy); 2006 ARPRO Racing (UK); 2007 Roscioli Hotels Roma (Italy); 2008 Conam Yachts (Italy).