10:18 PM Tue 14 Jul 2009 GMT
After undergoing radical, but relatively minor 'surgery', the two Maritimo race boats are set for the BMW Norwegian Offshore Grand Prix this weekend.
Team owner Bill Barry-Cotter, accompanied by son and #1 driver Tom and team manager Ann-Marie Cook arrived at the race venue, Arendal on Monday where they linked up with the boats and crew chief Peter 'Muddy' McGrath.
McGrath had supervised the so-called 'surgery' on the two boats after they experienced handling and cornering problems during the season's opening round at Qatar.
Bill Barry-Cotter has made several changes to the hull bottoms, including extending the tunnel fence and shifting the front step back 300mm.
McGrath, who will throttle the team's #2 boat with Italy's Giorgio Manuzzi at the wheel, is optimistic that the handling issues have been solved.
Tom Barry-Cotter will drive the other Maritimo boat with regular throttleman, Norway's Pal Virik Nilsen, a former Formula II world champion.
Despite their comparative youth (Tom is only 21-years-old), the pair is rated as Class 1's most experienced team.
Tom, of course, successfully defended his Australian Class 1 title off Townsville two weeks ago and will be hoping he can translate that success to the Norwegian GP.
Both Maritimo boats are powered by dual 930hp V8 engines prepared and built by key team member Kurt Davies.
The course, on the waters of the Arendal fjord, is known as 'quick' and has been described as one of the best venues on the Class 1 calendar by many crews.
It is recognised as the most 'spectacular' and 'demanding' course on the Class 1 tour.
For the first time, Class 1 organisers have introduced a two-race format for the GP, and competitors say a success or failure in race 1 will have a major impact on any outcome in race 2.
Practice has been scheduled for Friday, again on Saturday morning followed by race 1 on Saturday afternoon over 50.85 nautical miles.
Practice has again been scheduled for the Sunday morning with race 2 set for 68.21 nautical miles.
Both races carry full championship points.
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Throttleman Pal Viurik Nilsen (left) and driver Tom Barry-Cotter up against the world’s best in the Norwegian Grand Prix. - Norwegian GP - Bob Wonders
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by Bob Wonders
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Macquarie Island, TAS
