EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX – Round 1 Savona, Italy
SAVONA HOSTS CLASS 1 SEASON CURTAIN RAISER
On Sunday, May 23, eleven of the world’s premiere Class 1 powerboats line-up on the azure waters of the Italian Riviera off Savona, for the 12 lap, 124Nm European Grand Prix – the curtain raiser to the 1999 Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.
Whereas 1998 belonged to two teams with Bjorn Rune Gjelsten and Steve Curtis in Spirit of Norway, taking the World and European titles and Edoardo Polli and Laith Pharaon in Bilba lifting the Pole Position Trophy. The fleet of ’99 brings together four former Class 1 World Champions, the current World and European Champions, new teams, new competitors and new boat and engine combinations. And there is great expectation amongst the competitors that this year’s nine-race series will be of one of the most competitive and closely fought Championships of the past decade.
Gjelsten and Curtis will be hoping that
their consistent form of last year runs into ’99 but are aware that a lack of power
will have to be overcome in their bid to retain their title. However modifications to the
rear set-up resulting in a lighter boat and a variety of small adjustments to the overall
set-up should give some added speed. "We have carried out a limited amount of testing
but generally the boat is in good shape. We have made several minor changes and will be
working closely with Lamborghini throughout the season on engine development to find that
extra power. For sure the diesel boats will have more power in a straight line but over
the course of the race, power is only part of it." said Gjelsten.
Spearheading Italy’s assault for Class 1 glory is Edoardo Polli. His renamed, Seatek powered, Highlander (ex Bilba) is clearly the quickest of the fleet and Polli and Pharaon have tested extensively pre-season to ensure that gearbox reliability matches their speed. "Testing has gone well and I am pleased with the progress we have made." commented IOTA president Polli. " We have run with last year’s box and are also looking to develop an all Italian package. Overall we have a very good boat."
Of the Italian challengers, Jolly Motor fields an all-new driver line-up, bringing together Leonardo Polli and American throttleman Jim Dyke, whilst a second all new pairing sees Roberto Mastropietro teaming up with Vincenzo Polli. Staying together for a second season in the Molinari designed Immersion are Giampaolo Montavoci and Giovanni Giorgi, with all three teams favouring Lamborghini power.
The Anglo-Italian pairing of Ken Thorne and Matteo Nicolini arrive in Savona with a new Nicolini Offshore designed and built catamaran with noticeable modifications of a single rudder configuration, single canopy and 4-speed gearbox. "We have tested the gearbox and run one engine in our Class 2 boat. The new Class 1 is a lighter, stronger and quicker boat and I am sure we will be competitive." said a very confident Matteo Nicolini.
Always a force to be reckoned with, three times World Champions Victory Team, field the same driver line-up as in ’98, Mohamed Al Ghaith partnering Khalfan Harib and Saeed Al Tayer alongside Felix Serralles in the boats designed last year by Michael Peters. However this year the
Victory camp is considering running one diesel powered boat, so Ali Nasser and Randy Scism who start the season in their trusted Victory 7 may switch to, for them a new boat, last year’s original Victory 4. "It’s an exciting time for us and we are confident that the hard work put in over the winter period will be beneficial, but we know the competition at this level of racing is very fierce." said Victory Team managing director, Khalfan Harib.
Two new entries in ’99 include the all-new team/driver pairing of Frenchman Philippe Benhamou and Turkey’s, Ugur Isik in the Baudouin powered, CUV designed Isiklar and making a welcome return to full time racing are Norwegians Andreas Ugland and Jann Hillestad.
The noticeable absentees from the Savona start line are Australians Bill Barry-Cotter and Keith Hanson. The team is currently rigging a new Riviera Marine outfit, similar to last year’s boat but with a new back end set-up, single canopy and will hopefully be ready in time for the second race of the season.
Visit http://www.offshore-savona.sirio.it/ for local web site