March 7, 2011

Class 1 - 2011 Calendar


The UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship will field one of its strongest line-ups in recent years, with promoter Nicolò di San Germano confirming an eleven boat entry for the 2011 season-opener in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, 14-16 April. Announcing the news at today's press conference in Monaco, San Germano also revealed the dates for ten races at five Grand Prix, with Norway, Italy, Brazil and Abu Dhabi joining Dubai as the season venues, with the possibility of a sixth event to be announced in the coming weeks. It promises to be a closely-contested and intriguing season as old rivalries are renewed, as well as a titanic fight for supremacy in what is being billed as a Middle East versus Europe showdown, as teams prepare to go head-to-head for title honours. Defending World, European and Middle East Champions Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi - the dominant drivers in Class 1 over the last four years - will steer Victory Team's single boat attack. The triple World Champions took nine wins from 12 starts last season and know that they will face stiffer opposition in 2011, not just from neighbours Team Abu Dhabi and Middle East rivals Spirit of Qatar, but the seven teams from Europe - all intent on breaking the stranglehold that Victory Team has held over the championship since 2007. After an impressive debut season for Team Abu Dhabi and Class 1 rookie Rashed Al Tayer, taking three wins and one podium finish, Al Tayer is retained in the driver's seat, with the team still to announce who will take the throttles alongside him. Spirit of Qatar's recently announced return to racing renews their great rivalry with the Victory Team. Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and English throttleman Steve Curtis lead the team's two-boat assault on the championship in Qatar 96, with Class 1 debutant Ali Al Neama teaming-up with the experienced Italian, Matteo Nicolini in Qatar 95. Leading the line for European team success will be 2010 Edox Pole Position Champions Kolbjorn Selmer and Jorn Tanberg, the all-Norwegian pairing maintaining their partnership in Welmax for a third season, whilst fellow Norwegian outfit Zabo Racing look likely to maintain their 2010 pairing, with Paul Gaiser alongside throttleman Christian Zaborowski in Relekta. Italy rolls out four teams and three all-Italian pairings in 2011: Fendi Racing will make its championship debut with owner-driver Luca Formilli Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella continuing a promising Class 1 partnership that began in Abu Dhabi last season with a podium, running an Outerlimits boat and engine package. GiorgiOffshore has confirmed that throttleman Nicola Giorgi, who lines up for his 75th Grand Prix in Dubai, will partner Tomaso Polli who he first raced with in 2002, with Guido Cappellini resuming his partnership with Giampaolo Montaovoci, the pair teaming-up last year for fives races and grabbing two podium finishes. Both Team D'Alessio-SCAM and Chris Parsonage Racing, the sole English entry, have confirmed their participation but are still to reveal their driver line-ups. TEAMS 2011 - summary
Team: VICTORY TEAM (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) Boat: #3 Victory
Pilots: Arif Saif Al Zafeen (D) UAENadir Bin Hendi (T) UAE Team: TEAM ABU DHABI (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) Boat: #5 Abu Dhabi
Pilots: Rashed Al Tayer (D) UAEtbc (T) Team: FENDI RACING (Italy) Boat: #10 Fendi Racing
Pilots: Luca Formilli Fendi (D) ITAGiovanni Carpitella (T) ITA Team: GIORGIOFFSHORE (Italy) Boat: #18 GiorgiOffshore
Pilots: Tomaso Polli (D) ITANicola Giorgi (T) ITA Team: CHRIS PARSONAGE RACING (England) Boat: #50
Pilots: tbc (D)tbc (T) Team: TBC (Italy) Boat: #74
Pilots: Guido Cappellini (D) ITAGiampaolo Montavoci (T) ITA Team: WELMAX OFFSHORE RACING (Norway) Boat: #90 Welmax
Pilots: Kolbjorn Selmer (D) NORJorn Tandberg (T) NOR Team: ZABO RACING (Norway) Boat: #91 Relekta
Pilots: Paul Gaiser (D) BRAChristian Zaborowski (T) NOR Team: SPIRIT OF QATAR (Qatar) Boat: #95 Qatar
Pilots Ali Al Neama (D) QAT Matteo Nicolini (T) ITA Boat: #96 Qatar Pilots: Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani (D) QATSteve Curtis (T) ENG Team: D'ALESSIO-SCAM (Italy) Boat: # Pilots: tbc (D)tbc (T)
2011 CALENDAR
15/16 April - Dubai, UAE
June - TBA
16/17 July - Arendal, Norway
24/25 September - Stresa, Italy
22/23 October - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (tbc)
1/2 December - Abu Dhabi, UAE

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