Powerboat P1 - Sicily GP, SNAV OSG & Seagull Chaudron 2009 Champions

SNAV OSG and Seagull Chaudron were crowned Powerboat P1 World Champions for 2009 after Sunday’s sizzling season-finale at the Sicilian Grand Prix of the Sea in Siracusa. The race for Evolution and SuperSport gold went tantalisingly down to the wire with both class champions having to wait until round ten’s checkered flag to finally toast victory. Triumphant Evolution Class pilots Giancarlo Cangiano, Giovanni Carpitella and Hannes Bohinc have rarely been matched on the waters this season, winning exactly 50% of the races and claiming a podium finish in all but two in 2009. Heading to Siracusa needing to overhaul Racing Silverline’s 75-point lead, Messrs Cangiano and Carpitella backed up Saturday’s Sprint victory with second place during Sunday’s Endurance Race to finish runners-up in the overall Grand Prix of the Sea and consequently pip the British team at 2009’s final hurdle. One half of this year’s silver medalists, Jan Falkowski complimented OSG for their efforts, agreeing that the best team won overall.

Angelo Tedeschi cemented his place amongst the powerboat racing greats after scoring his third consecutive SuperSport Class World Championship title. The Italian, who has been part of Powerboat P1 since the first-ever race in Italy seven years ago, attributed their season’s success to the team’s consistency and diligent preparation. The Ukrainian Spirit’s victory was also a feather in the cap for Ilmor Engines, and the Chaudron 41 feet powerboat, who like Tedeschi, claimed their third successive championship.

Evolution Race 10

The Belgian 33 Furnibo boat took the chequered flag in the Endurance race at the Sicilian Grand Prix of the Sea, but it was 88 SNAV OSG who dramatically took the Powerboat P1 World Championship title in the final race of the season. Needing to merely complete the 76.59 nautical mile course as the team were already expected to claim an additional 50 points for reliability Giancarlo Cangiano and Giovanni Carpitella understandably drove a cautious race in order to protect their points haul. Pierre Colpin and Frank Hemelaer in their Fountain Furnibo hull took charge of the race from the start lap and proceeded to dominate matters for the entire 15 laps, recording a top-speed of 110.1mph in the process. Their maximum points total ensured Colpin and Hemelaer finished the season in third place in the overall standings following the untimely withdrawal on lap nine of the 77 Lucas Oil Outerlimits boat. Despite their approach, Cangiano and Carpitella were never in danger of relinquishing second place and ultimately the Championship. After another display of raw pace on the start lap, the Searex Racing Team's 66 Cranefields Wine boat saw them vie for the leadership of the race. Sigi Greve and Gino Passchier were passed on the second lap by 53 Metamarine and eventually forced to retire on the tenth lap owing to more technical difficulties. For Drew Langdon and Jan Falkowski, who had led the Championship since Istanbul in June, it was heartbreak as the race proved one too many as the 47 Silverline boat finished sixth. 10 Cigarette Smash Poker did not make the start line owing to engine problems. Cigarette also got penalised yesterday 200 plus 90 points for a breach in the power to weight ratio.

Supersport Race 10

A second place finish proved enough for Tedeschi and team-mates Aaron Ciantar and Viktor Shemchuk as the challenge of 38 Baia Attolini bravely faded at the final hurdle. Starting the Endurance contest 11 points clear of Stefano Acanfora, Roy Capasso and Renato Guidi, Seagull drove a risk-free race to ensure the title stays with Tedeschi and his team for at least another 12 months. It was 26 Team SW1 Capital who continued their sensational run of end-of-season form as Daniel Cramphorn and Kim Collins made it back-to-back double Grand Prix of the Sea victories. The British-born team led the 71.76 nautical mile race from the outset and were seldom threatened by their open-canopy rivals, a result which sees them move into third above non-starters 17 Spirit of Belgium. Baia Attolini finished the 14 lap race in third place despite incurring a one minute penalty for overspeeding while PowerPole sitters 44 Iko Casa ended the season with a hard-earned fourth place. 22 Big Sergio finished fifth and 28 Blue Shaft was forced to retire with an unspecified technical problem. The sun has set on Sicily and a landmark 2009 year for Powerboat P1.

RESULTS:

Evolution Endurance Race

1. #33 Furnibo 00:56:45.56
2. #88 SNAV OSG 00:58:15.66
3. #53 Metamarine Pignolo 53 00:58:29.63
4. #47 Silverline 00:56:45.83 - 4 laps
5. #66 Cranefields Wines 00:40:20.36 RETIRED after 10 laps
6. #77 Lucas Oil Outerlimits 00:31:55.22 RETIRED after 8 laps
7. #10 Cigarette Smash Poker DNS

Supersport Endurance Race

1. #26 Team SW1 Capital 01:01:16.83
2. #43 Seagull Chaudron 01:01:23.08
3. #38 Baia Attolini 01:02:24.60 includes 1 min overspeeding penalty
4. #44 Iko Casa 01:03:00.90
5. #22 Big Sergio 01:02:17.42 - 1 lap
6. #28 Blue Shaft 00:37:58.55 RETIRED after 8 laps
7. #17 Spirit of Belgium DNS

2009 Final Standings

Evolution Class
1 #88 SNAV OSG 811 pts
2 #47 Silverline 785 pts
3 #33 Furnibo 560 pts
4 #77 Lucas Oil Outerlimits 491 pts
5 #53 Metamarine Pignolo 365 pts
6 #10 Cigarette Smash Poker 342 pts
7 #66 Cranefields Wine 205 pts
SuperSport Class
1 #43 Seagull Chaudron 977 pts
2 #38 Baia Attolini 957 pts
3 #26 Team SW1 Capital 733 pts
4 #17 Spirit of Belgium 646 pts
5 #44 Iko Casa 597 pts
6 #28 Blue Shaft 428 pts
7 #22 Big Sergio 346 pts

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