O.S.G. and Maltese team Chaudron clinched the weekend Grand Prtix at Gallipoli after dominating yesterday’s races in their classes.
The Maltese team Chaudron were dominant in the SuperSport class, taking an early lead, extending it lap by lap to win by a margin of more than three minutes.
The team had clearly learnt from its hard fought third place in Saturday’s Endurance race and its performance yesterday was exceptional, the aggregate of points scored over the two legs enough to secure them the SuperSport Mediterranean Grand Prix of the Sea crown.
Pilot Aaron Ciantar and his sister Audrien make a formidable partnership and they now head to Cowes as the in-form team, knowing that after an indifferent start to the season they are closing fast on all the leading contenders for the Championship. Behind Chaudron the race unfolding was one of close action, clever tactics and surprises!
Saturday’s race winner, Ocean Dragon, suffered engine problems and was content just to complete the course whilst ARPRO and Saturday’s runner-up Jolly Special were forced to retire during the early stages.
This opened the way for Belgium team FORone, British boat Microlink PC and the Italian Italcraft to challenge for a podium place. Second placed Carpenter, whose strong challenge was some consolation for yesterday’s disqualification for missing a buoy. The Belgium team eventually took the final spot – its second podium place of the season – closely followed by Italcraft.
In finishing fifth on the day and recording their best result of the season, Microlink PC were one of several teams that is picking up the pace, building that vital experience that will guarantee a thrilling end to the season. For every team in the Championship it’s still all to play for.
O.S.G completed a double-victory to take the Evolution Class title in the Powerboat P1 Mediterranean Grand Prix of the Sea. Yesterday’s win means that the Sterling-powered Donzi of Giancarlo Cangiano and Antonio Cola is now within 30 points of the Championship leader, Kerakoll, with four races remaining. Kerakoll were forced to retire with engine problems on the second lap.
While the end margin from second placed Fainplast and third placed Kiton was emphatic, there were several times during the race when Fainplast looked set to make a move for the lead but did not quite have the speed.
An impressive and carefully planned start had seen O.S.G take the lead at the first turn and an equally impressive set-up for calm waters allowed them to race away and secure a first Grand Prix win of the season.
The Powerboat P1 World Championship now moves to Cowes, England for the British Grand Prix of the Sea on 26 and 27 August.