CLASS 1
SET FOR
NEWVENUES
MORE BOATS
AND GREAT RACING
2014 sees the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship
embark on its 51st year of racing since its sanctioning by
the sports’ World Governing Body, the Union Internationale
Motonautique (U.I.M.) in 1964, with the exciting prospect
of new venues, an increasing number of boats with
the addition of the Evolution class joining the tour and
increasingly closer competition amongst its leading
protagonists.
2013 saw the emergence of Terracina in Italy as a
sparkling new jewel in the Class 1 crown and the on-
going strategy of bringing in new and exciting venues by
promoter H2O Racing is set to continue this year with the
inclusion on the calendar of Bulgaria, the Spanish Island
of Ibiza and a second event in Italy in Sircusa.
The target for the aspiring title contenders in 2014 is
simple, to try to break the vice-like grip that Dubai’s
Victory Team has locked around the coveted Sam
GriǸth Trophy since 200 , courtesy of Champions Arif
Al =affain, Nadir Bin +endi, Mohammed Al Marri and the
late Jean-Marc Sanchez.
Not since the glory years from 1998 to 2006 when their
then nemesis Spirit of Norway won six World titles to
Victory’s three and dominated Pole Position winning
six titles to Victory’s one has a team got close to taking
their [Victory’s] crown or compete with them for race
wins, other than the odd ïeeting incursion of success by
Jolly Motor, Maritimo, the Qatar Team and more recently
Victory Australia and LFF8.
H20 MAGAZINE - MARCH 2014 | 29
h2oracing.net
