2017 sees H2O Racing take another step
forward in its responsible approach to
protecting the environment and has entered
into partnership with Treedom to plant trees
in Africa to offset its CO2 emissions. “As
individuals we all have a responsibility to react
and contribute to the growing concerns and
issues facing the global environment”, said
H2ORacing president, Nicolo di SanGermano.
“As a company we have a responsibility to our
stake holders, to the countries and people
where we are involved and to support them in
respect of their environment.”
H2O Racing’s carbon neutral strategy is
very much in line with the strong direction
on environmental responsibilities taken and
implemented by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, president
of the sport’s world governing body, the Union
Internationale Motonautique (UIM), and its
close working relationship with the United
Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
More than 450 guests from sport,
commerce, the boating industry and
media gathered at the iconic Sporting
Monte-Carlo,
Monaco
in
March
for the eighth Union International
Motonautique (UIM) Word Champions
Awards Giving Gala, sponsored by
China’s BUND Holding Group.
While the majority of the winners
receivedrecognitionfortheirworldtitles,
the UIM used the occasion to introduce
a number of new awards including,
the inaugural UIM Hall
of Fame which was
presented to Formula 1
powerboat legend, Guido
Cappellini. “It is indeed
a great honour to be the
first driver acknowledged
by the UIM in this way,”
said Cappellini, a ten-
time
winner
of
the
UIM
F1H2O
World
Championship and a key
contributor to improving
safety
in
powerboat
racing throughout his
whole career who flew in from Abu
Dhabi to accept his award.
“To receive the nomination for my work
towards increasing safety measures in
our sport means far more to me than
receiving it for my ten world titles.
Our sport’s history is full of wonderful
competitors and achievements so to
be honoured by the UIM in this way is
without doubt one of the highlights of my
career.”
H2O RACING
EXPANDING ITS
ENVIRONMENTAL
FOOTPRINT
GUIDO CAPPELLINI HONOURED AT
GLITTERING UIM GALA AWARDS
The early signs are that 2017 looks all set to be another fascinating
season for the prestigious UIM-ABP AquabikeWorld Championship
with big rider numbers from 23 countries expected.
The first batch of contracted riders to have signed on the dotted line
includes a raft of World, European and National Champions, as well
as an influx of newcomers.
In all categories the defending world champions head the listings; in
runabout GP1 Kuwait’s Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq is aiming to become
the first rider to win three consecutive titles and take his tally to four.
In Ski the intense rivalry between the world’s top four will continue,
with champion Jeremy Poret chasing a staggering fifth crown and
having to contend with the likes of Kevin Reiterer, Nacho Armillas
and Stian Schjetlein.
Emma-Nellie Ortendahl will undoubtedly be the bookies favourite
to retain her title, with Estelle Poret, Virginie Morlaes and Kylie
Ellmers hoping they can produce something special to challenge the
champion.
The man to beat in freestyle is defending and four-time champion
Rok Florjancic who will be looking to add to his current 17 Grand
Prix win haul, his main opposition at this stage is brother Nac.
The UIM-ABP season starts with the European Continental Circuit
Championship in Zadar, Croatia in May with round two in the Douro
region in Portugal in June. A huge turnout of riders is anticipated in
Zadar, with the town also hosting the Offshore Championship on the
same weekend.
Thevenue for theUIM-ABPAquabikeOffshoreWorldChampionship
in August in China is still to be announced, with the European
Continental Endurance Championship taking place in Portimao,
Portugal in October.
UIM-ABP AQUABIKE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
SET FOR ANOTHER
FASCINATING SEASON
5