Happening on the Isle of Wight, renowned for its cultural and sporting events and entertainment, the UIM Powerboat P1 World Championship return in 2007 as the headline act of the Cowes Powerboat Festival, one of the most prestigious annual events in world powerboating. The P1 British GP of the Sea is once again set to attract tens of thousands of fans to the island's shores over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Up to 100 of Europe's finest powerboats will descend upon Cowes for the festival, which includes the historic 'Round the Island Challenge', guaranteeing spectacular action and entertainment on and off the water. Cowes has a rich nautical heritage and its ability to host major marine events is demonstrated each year when the Cowes Regatta and Powerboat Festival come to town and the public and competitors mingle in the pleasant surroundings of Cowes and take in the traditional pubs, restaurants and cafes that are a feature of this historical venue.
Sail gives way to power on the Isle of Wight over the August Bank Holiday weekend when the Powerboat P1 British Grand Prix of the Sea roars into life. Building upon the 47 year heritage of the Cowes Powerboat Festival, this entertainment-packed event has been extended to four days, a reflection of its growing popularity. More than 120 craft are expected to assemble in Cowes, including many of the world's top racing craft and crew, and organisers predict spectator numbers will exceed last years estimate of 70,000. The racing starts in earnest on Friday 24th following a day of testing, with the highlight of the Friday programme Round 7 of the Powerboat P1 World Championship, the P1 British Grand Prix of the Sea. The race incorporates a lap of the Island, one of the most prestigious and demanding challenges in powerboat racing with a history that dates back to 1968. Shortly after the high-powered P1 craft 'blast off' at 2pm, the competitors in the 'Round-the-Island' challenge will assemble off Cowes for one of the most popular events of the weekend. Open to all pleasure and race craft, crews race against the clock in a range of class categories following the same circuit as the P1 'muscle machines'. When last run in 2005 it attracted 36 entries from across Britain. On Saturday and Sunday racing will revert to a spectator-friendly circuit where the public can enjoy the close-up spectacular action the shores between Cowes and Thorness. A packed programme over both days includes Thundercats, International RIBs, Class 3C and V24s, a Jet Bike endurance race and the Honda 4-stroke Series comprising 150s and 225s. The headline act on Saturday 25th will be the two-race Honda 4-stroke Series, the UK's leading domestic championship, whilst on Sunday the star attraction is undoubtedly the final leg of the Powerboat P1 British Grand Prix of the Sea with 20 of the worlds finest racing boats and pilots competing for World Championship points and the glory of winning in Cowes, the 'mecca' of world powerboating.
The questions surrounding the British P1 Grand Prix is the domination of King of Shaves and Weetpunkt.com shown so far in the Evolution class. At this stage of the championship apart from the Malta race, weather has been fairly good so a change in conditions can really turn the tables in the chart standings. This might really be what the teams at the bottom of the chart are hoping for, having decided for a more sea worthy hull for there campaign.
In the Supersport production class someone will try to stop the successful Roscioli Hotels Roma who have shown a superb pace in the first half of this season. Even tough Buzzi Bullet III who won in Germany and Sun Like Beer who placed second in the same race, have shown they are not going to stay and watch Angelo Tedeschi and Fabio Magnani dominate.