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Race Report - Tuesday 8th May
Battle of the waves -The challenge begins for Team Sunseeker
High seas were a major feature in the opening race of the 2007 Powerboat P1 World Championship in the Grand Harbour Valletta, Malta, where 14 boats and their fearless crews braved seas with waves of up to five metres to put on a spectacular public show. Sunseeker Sales Group’s powerboat team, Team Sunseeker, secured fifth place in this challenging first race in the SuperSport Class on Saturday 6th May.
This was the inaugural race for the technically refined boat, Sunseeker Challenger, with driver, Andy Wilby, and throttleman, Gavin Brown, demonstrating that the new twin 5.9 litre Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT) NEF 400 turbo diesel engines are a match for the world’s finest powerboat racers. The race started extremely well for Sunseeker Sales Group, with Team Sunseeker gaining a prime position within the leading fleet of boats. However, while competing for a place on the podium in gruelling sea conditions a fuel line in the race boat, Sunseeker Challenger, unfortunately split cutting the fuel supply to the engine and causing it to stop.
Determined to finish the race, Andy and Gavin managed to access the engine bay to repair the damaged line. This was an amazing achievement with the wind blowing a strong force 6 and 5m high waves. This setback caused a full 15 minute delay however the team demonstrated superb resolve to carry on racing and finish in an impressive fifth place.
Team Sunseeker driver, Andy Wilby, says: “This was an extremely tough race. It was really treacherous out there but we have a really solid boat which got us through the high swells. We put in a lot of hard work during, as well as leading up to, the race and to achieve fifth place in the first leg following our unfortunate incident was exceptional. We showed great potential and had this setback not occurred I am convinced that we would have been on the Podium. We will certainly learn from the experience and are looking forward to the next race.”
Praising the team’s determination, Steve Foot, Finance Director at Sunseeker Sales Group; says: “High swells shook up this first race which tested competitor skill to the maximum. Although this was a slightly frustrating start for Team Sunseeker, we were impressed at Andy and Gavin’s sheer determination and bravery to complete the race. Aside from the unfortunate minor incident with the split fuel line, the boat performed superbly and our race result bodes well for the next race in Naples.”
On Sunday 6th May, sea conditions outside Valletta Harbour were considered too dangerous for the racing, forcing organisers to cancel the second leg of the Powerboat P1 World Championship series. A time trial initiative within the harbour walls was introduced to reward the large crowds with a show.
The Powerboat P1 World Championship now heads to Naples on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th May 2007 when crowds will be treated to another drama-packed weekend of racing.
2007 Powerboat P1 World Championship
Maltese Grand Prix of the Sea - Results
Evolution Class |
|
|
|
|
Pos. |
No |
Boat name |
Nationality |
Points |
1 |
88 |
OSG Racing |
Italian |
100 |
2 |
81 |
Wettpunkt.com |
Austrian |
80 |
3 |
90 |
Kiton |
Italian |
60 |
97 - Outerlimits - American - DNF
64 - Fainplast - Italian - DQF
SuperSport |
|
|
|
|
Pos. |
No |
Boat name |
Nationality |
Points |
1 |
55 |
Extremeboat |
British |
100 |
2 |
44 |
Roscioli Hotels Roma |
Italian |
80 |
3 |
47 |
Buzzi Bullet |
British |
60 |
4 |
46 |
Chaudron |
Maltese |
50 |
5 |
11 |
Team Sunseeker |
British |
40 |
6 |
09 |
Marex |
British |
30 (Wild Card) |
03 - Carpenter - Italian - DNF
07 - VoomVoom.com - British - DNF
08 - Sun Lik Beer - Chinese - DNF
