May 7, 2009

Powerboat P1 - Malta, Valletta Preview


The Malta Grand Prix returns to be the opening round of the Powerboat P1 Season. This is the sixth season for the Malta race, having started to take place in 2004 and has to become one of the race legends in this series.
Malta has also an important footprint in this series having the honour of building the Supersport boat winner of the championship in both the 2007 and 2008 seasons the Chaudron 41. Maltese Arron Chiantar who is son of Charlie Chiantar, Chaudron founder and owner was also at the steering of the 2008 winning boat. This year the local Chaudron will have again two racing boats lined up for the season but both being a 41 footer with the difference in engines. The 44 Racing Project Chaudron winning boat of 2007 and 2008 will be driven by all females Audrien sister of Arron at the throttles and Shelley Jory taking the wheel. On the other hand the winning team of 2008 will move to a new sister hull to there unstoppable boat on the exterior but a new Ilmor engine package. It will be interesting to see how this develops.
In Supersport a total of seven teams will compete. Team Al & Al from Italy presents two running boats one of new construction no. 28 and the old and reliable Big Sergio no.22. Other interesting to see will be the no.17 US built Nortech with Russian Team of Flanders. Baia High Performance will continue with the 2008 package. A new team to watch is Team 26 with Wreckless which is the only UK running in this class.
The Evolution Class will also have seven boats taking part. With the teams eager to follow where they left in 2008 being the second placed Metamarine 53, and third place 88 SNAV OSG. Other to watch will be the Cigarette no.10 The Fantastic One, and Centurian Yachts join hands with the winning 2007 and 2008 Fountain Powerboats to follow a winning package. 47 Silverline from Team Bullet Racing will also make its step to this grand class after competing in the past in Supersport.
So far the schedule does not clarify if racing for both Classes is separated. Racing is far scheduled on 1400 hours on both Saturday and Sunday for the Round one and Round two race. We hope for this to still be the case as it makes for a better viewing and understanding of the race. The spectacular Powerpole is scheduled for Friday at 1530.

No comments:

Post a Comment