We are mid-way through what is proving a powerful, stylish and exciting Powerboat P1 World Championship. The initial three Grands Prix, that of Malta, Italy and Germany, have presented moments of drama, surprises, disappointment and jubilation on the ‘field of play’ which, like in any competitive experience have been the means to identify the favourites from the challengers and the contenders.
At this stage of the contest all competing teams are now geared-up with engines well tested anxious to confront the last decisive three appointments – England, Italy and Spain.
An anticlimax to the successful staging last May of the Portomaso Malta Grand Prix was the surprising announcement made by the local team Chaudron that “Due to the fact that a number of promised sponsorships failed to materialise we will not be able to contest the ‘overseas’ legs of the Championship”. In fact Chaudron failed to make the Grand Prix of Italy in June and was even penalised five points by the organisers for this absence.
“We are proud to fly the Maltese colours at such a level of play but such events do not signify only prestige and valuable exposure but also a considerable participation cost. We estimate that going for the entire six-leg championship programme entails an expense of some Lm35,000 for a smooth run without sustaining any serious damages and mishaps. This, of course, does not include cost of boat”, commented Charles Ciantar, the mentor behind Chaudron Powerboats of Fgura.
Yet, perseverance in one’s ambitions eventually pays off and last month Chaudron secured a significant sponsorship in time to enable the team to go for the German Grand Prix and to confirm their participation in all the remaining three Championship appointments.
ESI - Engineering for Science and Industry (Malta) Ltd – are the new main sponsors of the local P1 World Championship protagonist which, for the rest of the season, will be racing under the name of ESI Chaudron. Engineering for Science and Industry (Malta) Ltd is a Maltese company, with operations in Malta and Libya, which specialises in automatic controls, fire fighting, fire detection and other electrical and low voltage services.
“ESI are glad to be associated with such a high profile sport. Our sponsorship should support local talent to experience and benefit from participation at international level and also to project Malta prominently and its industries abroad”, remarked John Fenech, Managing Director of ESI.
This season the local team is still racing with the same boat used in the 2004 Championship – a 33-footer which for this campaign was refreshed with a pair of brand new 250 H.P. Mainer outboard engines – a cost of some Lm11,000.
“For next season we are planning a bigger and faster boat. A 41-footer powered by two strong inboard engines which should make the team major challengers for the Championship”, declared the Maltese throttleman.
Meanwhile future plans take secondary importance this week as Malta’s ESI Chaudron joins some of the world’s leading boat and engine manufacturers at Cowes, Isle of Wight, for this weekend’s Gillette MACH3 NITRO Gel British Grand Prix.
The stressful ‘Title Fight’ continues at this fourth GP of the season with Sony (Italy), Wettpunkt.com (Austrian) and O.S.G. (Italy) leading the Evolution Class with 50, 31, and 25 points respectively.