SCANDINAVIAN GRAND PRIX, Oslo – round 4
Preview
The Scandinavian Grand Prix on Sunday 25 July may well prove to be a crucial turning point in this year’s U.I.M. Class 1 World Powerboat Championship as it reaches the half way stage.
The Class 1 fleet heads to Oslo in the aftermath of a truly dramatic Norwegian Grand Prix weekend in Arendal, where world record speeds for the Pole Position were smashed and technological advances in boat build and safety proved their worth, following a 100mph testing accident sustained by Mohamed Al Ghaith and Khalfan Harib in Victory 4.
The team leading the fight-back to try to overhaul the Victory Team dominance so far this season is Jolly Motor. Leonardo Polli and Jim Dyke will be looking to move up yet another gear after scoring maximum points in Arendal and, after moving into third overall in the title race are confident that their best is yet to come.
Meanwhile, the all American guest entry of Matt Alcone and Jerry Gilbreath will arrive in Oslo on the crest of a wave, sporting the victory laurels they collected in Arendal after beating the cream of the World’s Class 1 teams on their own ‘turf’.
For the Victory team, plans seem uncertain, but Oslo may well see the old Victory 7 boat return to complete a depleted, yet still formidable line-up following the damage suffered by Victory 4 in Arendal. As to which pairing will step into Victory 7 is still undecided. Whatever the decision, new Championship leaders, Ali Nasser and Randy Scism in the new Seatek diesel engined Victory 7 and second placed Mohamed Al Ghaith and Khalfan Harib will be hoping to continue their recent form.
Norwegian fortunes also appear mixed, as time looks to be running out for defending World Champions, Bjorn Rune Gjelsten and Steve Curtis. The Anglo-Norwegian pairing must realistically post a win in Oslo if they are to offer any sort of challenge at retaining their title. For Andreas Ugland and Jann Hillestad however, the tide has already turned, following a very creditable performance in the ever-improving Jotun that netted them twelve valuable Championship points.
Meanwhile, defending Pole Position Champions, Edoardo Polli and Laith Pharaon, have vowed not to give up their crown without a fight. However, despite the fact that they currently lie second behind Victory 44 in the Pole Position, the team has struggled to put together a reliable overall race package that will consistently go the full distance.
Claudio Dionisio and Roberto Biancalana in Binautica continue to produce reliable and consistent performances that have pushed them to sixth overall in the Championship, while Isiklar 22 and Immersion will be looking to score points in Oslo after struggling last time out.
The disappointment continues for Ken Thorne and Matteo Nicolini in No Fear who will hope for an end to a frustrating run of form that to-date has resulted in the team failing to post a finish this season.
Twelve boats, including the guest entry of Matt Alcone and Jerry Gilbreath in US1 will line up for the 11 lap 120.5Nm Scandinavian Grand Prix and the Class 1 fleet will be looking for a ‘Champion’ amongst them to take sweet revenge over Alcone and Gilbreath.