Malta, Turkey, Italy, Sweden and Sicily are five destinations presenting diverse appealing characteristics and varied climatic temperaments as well as taste disparity in cooking, beverages, cultures and traditions. Yet this year these five localities presented a unified backdrop for a mammoth challenge where daring men in their powerful machines endeavour to conquer the sea and all competition in their way to become Powerboat P1 World Champions.
Once again, since our first involvement in 2004, local interest in this spectacular manifestation goes beyond the fact that Malta has today established itself as a prime annual venue of the Championship for yet again Aaron and Audrien Ciantar of Chaudron fame, while experiencing different fortunes, are figuring prominently amongst the international field of participants.
Aaron is the driver of Ukraine entry Seagull Chaudron (The Ukrainian Spirit) which following three of the five-event current Championship programme leads the SuperSport Class with 593 points, nineteen points ahead of second placed Baia Attolini (Italy). The Ukrainian Spirit crew also includes Italian Angelo Tedeschi (Throttles) and Ukraine team owner and navigator Viktor Shemchuk.
Seagull Chaudron (The Ukrainian Spirit) won a first placing in the Malta Grand Prix of the Sea, and two second placing in both Istanbul Turkey and San Benedetto del Tronto Italy. “Good weather prevailed in the first three meetings which made it a smooth run for all competitors. I tend to prefer inclement conditions as racing at 85mph in rough weather ‘Chaudron’ performs better”, remarked Aaron whose P1 experience proved fruitful years of hard work and commitment both as a driver and as a boat-builder
In 2005, his second year around, Aaron had his first taste of P1 victory when in a Chaudron boat crewed together with his sister Audrien they won third place in the SuperSport Championship. In 2007 41-fotter Chaudron-built Racing Project, competing under the name of Roscioli Hotels Roma and piloted by Italian team owner Angelo Tedeschi, clinched the SuperSport P1 Championship world title. Together with Tedeschi were crew members Fabio Magnani and Ugo Pellegrino. Last year came Aaron’s most rewarding personal moment of triumph when together with Angelo Tedeschi in another Chaudron-built entry named Conam Yachts he was crowned Supersport Championship World Champion.
A most noteworthy comment on the Maltese boat-builders came from Viktor Shemchuk owner of Seagull Chaudron (43) and president of the Ukrainian Federation of Powerboats who said that “We are very happy that the Ukrainian Spirit came into P1 under the name of Chaudron as we think they are one of the best boat-building companies in Europe”.
“Besides giving Aaron an opportunity to satisfy his passion for speed our participation in P1 races even opened new business horizons for Chaudron. Today our boats were acquired and raced by Italian, Belgian and Ukraine owners and are highly regarded on the international circuit”, declared Charles Ciantar, founder and mentor behind Chaudron Powerboats.
Standing in fourth position of the SuperSport Class is Iko Casa, the second Chaudron boat in this year’s Championship owned by Racing Project of Italy. Crewed by Shelley Jory (Driver) and Audrienne Ciantar (Throttle) who make P1’s first ever all-female team. “Iko Casa were unlucky to experience some wiring problems during the Endurance Race in San Benedetto del Tronto Italy which made them forfeit precious points”, remarked Aaron who still believes that “the girls are strong enough to finish in the top three”.
The next appointment on the Powerboat P1 World Championship 2009 calendar is Gothenburg Sweden to be raced over the coming weekend (7/9 August). This will be the fourth of five meetings with the historic city of Syracuse in Sicily earmarked to host this year’s P1 Grand Finale – 11/13 September.
The 14 competing teams hail from Great Britain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the USA and Ukraine. Prior to the Swedish meeting the 2009 P1 Championship classifications read:
Evolution Class – 1. Silverline (500pts); 2. SNAV OSG (381pts); 3. Cigarette Smash Poker (371pts); 4. Lucas Oil Outerlimits (337pts); 5. Furnibo (270pts); 6. Cranefields Wine (205pts); 7. Metamarine Pignolo 53 (202pts).
SuperSport Class – 1. Seagull Chaudron (593pts); 2. Baia Attolini (574pts); 3. MasForce (483pts); 4. Iko Casa (451pts); 5. Team SW1 Capital (333pts); 6. Blue Shaft (302pts); 7. Big Sergio (214 pts).