U.I.M. CLASS 1 WORLD POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP 1999.
RACE FIVE – TURKISH GRAND PRIX – ISTANBUL
27 –29 August 1999.
TECHNICAL COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
Eleven boats turned up in Istanbul but only ten boats competed in a subdued event due to the recent earthquake, with all prize money being paid to the "Disaster Fund"
Boat No.1 "Spirit of Norway". Because of the problems the team had at a previous venue with dirty fuel they imported their own fuel to Istanbul. Whilst not against any written rule we believed it to be against the "spirit of the rule". The importation of fuel to a venue by individual teams was discussed and it was agreed in principal, by members of I.O.T.A. and WOCC that this will not happen in the future. The fuel was tested before the race and was perfectly legal.
They recorded a Pole Position speed of 146.98 mph (236.69kph), good enough for fourth place. On lap three of the race whilst running in second place they attempted to take "Victory 7" on the inside on a bend and "hooked and rolled". This was a high speed accident, at the time they were reportedly running at 140mph into a right hand bend and were trying to go on the inside of the lead boat. They caught it’s wake and started to go sideways but "dug in" on the port rear quarter, the water pressure blew in the side of the boat causing them to turn over. The side of the boat from the rear of the safety cell to the stern has completely gone, but the main structure seems to be undamaged and can most probably have a new section bonded on. The safety cell was completely undamaged and apart from some bruising, the crew unhurt. When the boat was recovered the compression flap was seen to be down, probably a large contributing factor to the accident.
Boat No.3 "No Fear". Returned to running with gearboxes again for this meeting. The central rudder mounting has been substantially strengthened since it was torn off in the last race. Sixth place in Pole with a speed of 141.23mph (227.42kph). Ran as high as third place in the race with a fastest lap average of 119.27mph (191.96kph) before one of the Seatek engines expired.
Boat No.4 "Victory Team". Technical Inspection showed no faults after its roll over in Oslo. Only did one Pole run 143.77mph (231.51kph), this being the same speed achieved in testing and the pilots believing they could not better it. Pulled out of the race on lap eight because of low oil pressure on one engine after recording a best race lap average speed of 121.40mph (195.39kph).
Boat No.5 "Binautica". Ran Pole at 129.00mph (207.73kph) for seventh place. In the race the ever reliable team achieved their best ever position with a fourth place finish at a race average speed of 96.09mph (154.65kph).
Boat No.7. "Victory Team". Second Pole Position win of the season for this diesel powered boat with a speed of 154.71mph (249.13kph). Kept the momentum going for the weekend by becoming the first diesel engined boat to win a WOC race for some considerable time. They led from start to finish with a race average of 122.79mph (197.67 kph) and in doing so increased their championship lead to 19 points.
Boat No. 8 "L.A.Jeans". "Immersion" of late, had a disastrous weekend. Had two rebuilt engines fitted prior to the meeting only to break down going out to Pole when one engine lost all its electrics. The team fitted another engine for the race, only to suffer the same fate on the way to the muster area.
Boat No.9 "Jolly Motor". The boat was at the venue but did not compete.
Boat No.22 "Isiklar". Four valve Lamborghini engines were fitted for this race, as opposed to the older two valve Lamborghini engines it has been using so far this season. Recorded 99.80mph (160.71kph) in Pole. In the race ran at an average of 90.61mph (145.82kph) and fifth place, another boat to score their highest race position to date.
Boat No.27 "Hyatt". Recorded 147.86mph (238.10kph) in Pole, for second place, almost 7mph down on "Victory7". Ran the race in second place with a best lap average speed of 124.97mph(201.13kph). Throughout the race the pilots were concerned with low oil pressure on the starboard engine and then had a propeller shaft shear on the port side on lap thirteen. They had actually completed enough laps at a high enough speed to net them second place. The broken shaft had been fitted new for this race, a component that is usually changed for every third race.
Boat No.44 "Victory Team". During practice on Friday one drive shaft had a bearing starting to break up, so both drive units were stripped and rebuilt as a precaution. Recorded a Pole speed of 147.47mph (237.47kph) to take third place. On the first lap of the race they came around in a lowly ninth and last position, one gearbox was in fourth gear and they were only able to use the other gearbox to change gear. Had a good run thereafter to second place with a race average speed of 117.14mph (188.53kph).
Boat No.90 "Jotun". Did not run in Pole because of a suspected gearbox bearing fault, and due to the lack of a spare unit yet, they did not want to take a chance of damaging anything and risk not being able to do the race on the following day. The other gearbox was also stripped because of an oil pressure fault. Ran as high as fifth place in the race but retired on lap eight. One of the engines had had a turbo fault from lap two, and the other engine developed a fault also, possibly a head gasket, but the transmissions were all right.
At one stage of the race we had diesel engined boats (No’s 7 –27 – 3) in the first three positions, just showing how competitive, and fast, the diesel engined boats are becoming. This race had many corners and no real long straight, the winning boats race average speed was 122.79mph (197.62kph), and in what was quite flat conditions, is the design of the race course the way to slow the boats down ?.
M.B.Robert.
U.I.M. Scruitineer