The big moment is getting closer for those aiming for a place on the start-line of the 2007 Maltese Grand Prix of the Sea now hardly two weeks away.
The latest new entries have enhanced the racing fleet not only in numbers, now nineteen, but with skillful crews, powerful machines and further embellished the rich mix of nationalities which really give that touch of international representation - Belgium, France, UK, Austria, Germany, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, the U.S.A. and China too.
The nineteen entries will be split into two categories.
These are the Evolution Class, which will be made up of high powered prototype racing craft that can reach speeds in excess of 100mph and are boats with a minimum length of 36ft and maximum of 43ft using inboard motors only.
The line-up in this category comprises (57) Limmi Offshore Racing (Belgium), (64) Metamarine Corse (Italy), (62) Muscle XXL Offshore (France), (88) OSG Racing (Italy), (97) Outerlimits (USA), (66) Skater Racing Team (Italy), (69) Raceteam Skater (UK), (90) Team Trident (Italy), and (81) WettPunkt.com (Austria) – 9 boats.
The SuperSport Class is open for boats with standard production model hulls and engines having a length between 33ft (minimum) and 42ft (maximum) and which can race to a maximum average lap speed of 75mph and straight-line top speed of 80mph.
Here one finds (47) Buzzi Bullet 3 (UK), (17) Searex (Germany), (55) ExtremeBoat (UK), (03) Team Carpenter (Italy), (11) Sunseeker (UK), (46) Chaudron Casino at Portomaso (Malta), (07) VoomVoom Racing (UK), (08) Ocean Dragon Racing (China), (00) Offshore Perforance (Swiss) and (00) Racing Project (Italy) – 10 boats.
A further important development has been the confirmation of three prestigious brands as Official Sponsors and Suppliers whereby the P1 2007 Championship will be the elevated platform for them to present and promote their range of products. These are Raymarine, the world leader in marine electronics, Sunseeker motoryachts renowned for their tireless pursuit of excellence, and Offshore Legends. In fact last weekend Offshore Legends as Official clothing supplier, unveiled the first phase of its eye-catching new range of Powerboat P1 team wear in St Tropez where teams and boats descended upon the French resort for a pre-season press gathering.
Getting the Powerboat P1 images across the world will be another highlight in the 6-event 2007 Championship calendar and this is possible through accord concluded with Greenlight Television who since their inception in mid-nineties have established themselves as one of the world’s major producers of motorsport and motoring television where they have worked closely with almost every major Formula One team. Now Greenlight takes their vast land fast racing experience to cover sea powerboating adventures through their extensive distribution network comprising 70 countries worldwide.
A ten-strong TV crew will be covering the Maltese Grand Prix of the Sea intensely with filming done from land, sea and helicopter too supported by English and Italian speaking television presenters. The Powerboat P1 Championship has in a short spell of five years gained remarkable status as an international marketing platform for both the marine industry and Europe’s top resort destinations. Undoubtedly one of the main contributors to this success was its significant global TV exposure.
Yes, all is moving into position on the P1 fast lane where the home name Chaudron is yet to make the pre-event spotlight over the coming days not with regards to the Aaron and Audrien racing team but with the launching of a stunning new 41ft racing machine which should give the Fgura boat builders a new dimension and open up new horizons on the international powerboat racing circuit.