CLASS 1 ANNOUNCES SWEEPING CHANGES FOR MILLENNIUM
* World Offshore Committee sanctions progressive changes to rules *
* Anticipated 15 boats to contest 2000 Championship *
Dubai – Friday 5 November 1999: The U.I.M. Class 1 World Powerboat Championship today revealed some of the most sweeping changes to the sport in many years, following a meeting of the World Offshore Championship Committee (WOCC) and International Offshore Teams Association (IOTA.)
Anticipation of the first series of the new millennium was further heightened, following the announcement that the Committee has to-date received serious enquiries from 15 Class 1 boats that wish to contest the 2000 season.
Pending final ratification by the U.I.M, the key points of interest from the meeting are hereby summarised as follows:
The Pole Position Trophy will be transformed in both name and format, and will henceforth be known as the Time Trials Trophy.
The traditional straight-line speed run over a measured kilometer will be replaced by a time trial over an oval / cigar shaped course, of approximately 4nm.
The duration of each Time Trial session will be 1.5 hours.
Each boat will be permitted 3 timed laps during the session, with the fastest lap counting.
Before embarking on a timed lap, every boat must complete a warm up lap, although a boat will then be permitted to make 3 timed laps in succession if desired.
Each boat will be permitted to change one set of propellers per session.
Each boat will be permitted to use the crane once during the session.
Compression flaps will be banned for the 2000 season. This decision has been taken with the unanimous agreement of the competitors and is designed to enhance safety by reducing top speeds by an anticipated 5-6 mph.
Pit stops will be permitted for the 2000 season, although re-fuelling will not be allowed during the stop. This decision has been taken in order to improve the chances of more boats completing a full race distance.
A special one year dispensation will allow V8, 2-valve engined boats to contest the Championship, albeit with the following stipulations:
A. That they may not run air restrictors.
B. That they will not be permitted to use gearboxes.
This move has been sanctioned in a bid to attract to the Championship several American boats and engine builders who have expressed an interest in competing, by creating a degree of parity with the Lamborghini and Seatek engined boats currently contesting the series.
In harmony with the competitors wishes, race-courses will continue to be designed so that they are as tight and close to shore as safety allows.
This will have the triple effect of improving spectator viewing from the shore, enhancing safety by reducing top speeds and thereby increasing the probability of close, overtaking races.
Races will continue to be run over a distance of around 128nm or for 1.5 hours, whichever is the sooner.
6. Edoardo Polli has been re-elected as the Class 1 driver’s representative to the U.I.M.
Announcing the rule changes before the Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix, the final round of the 1999 Championship, Richard Ridout, U.I.M permanent commissioner and chairman of WOCC said: "The committee is convinced that these wide ranging changes will lead to more exciting racing and enhanced safety, in what is already the premier powerboat series in the World."
"By clearing the way for American boats and engines to enter the series, we can only improve the international standing of the Championship and by re-inventing the Time Trials competition, we have taken a major step forward. With the new rules in place, I believe that 2000 will be the best Class 1 Championship in the sports history."