1:32 AM Wed 5 Aug 2009 GMT
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'Skilful driving from Tom Barry-Cotter and the deft hand of Pal Virik Nilsen on throttles enabled 'Maritimo 11' to take a well-deserved second place in the Norwegian Grand Prix. - ?Raffaello Bastiani'
Class-1 World Powerboat Championship ©
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Maritimo's brilliant double-podium finish in last month's BMW Norwegian Grand Prix has sparked a wave of excitement and interest in Constanta-Mamaia, with the 2008/9 Australian Offshore Superboat Champions set to make their first appearance in the Romanian Grand Prix, 28-30 August.
Speaking at yesterday's press conference in Mamaia, Constanta City's Mayor, Radu Stefan Mazare, praised the efforts of both Event and Championship organisers. 'The Class 1 Romanian Grand Prix grows in stature each year, and I am very happy that I gave the event my full support three years ago. Before we hosted the Class 1 Grand Prix our tourist season ended around 15 August, now we have visitors coming to the first week in September.'
Announcing the event timetable, Event organiser Ionut Barbut said: 'The two-race format has been very well received by the media and of course gives the spectators more opportunity to see the raceboats in action. But it is the Australian Team that is creating the excitement after their result in Norway and because they are racing here for the first time everyone is eager to see them.'
Class 1's Operations Director, Pasquale Sesana, added his praise for the event. 'We have seen a remarkable growth in the development of the area, and each year the facilities provided by the event organiser just get better and better.'
Constanta-Mamaia hosted the first Romania Grand Prix on Lake Siutghiol in 2007, won by Victory's Arif Al Zafeen and Jean-Marc Sanchez who went on to lift the World title, with last year's winners, Jotun's Inge Brigt Aarbakke and Jorn Tandberg, lifting the European Championship.
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Peter 'Muddy' McGrath and Giorgio Manuzzi, aboard 'Maritimo 12' dicing with a helicopter on their way to third place in the Norwegian Grand Prix. - ?Raffaello Bastiani -
Class-1 World Powerboat Championship ©
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Macquarie Island, TAS
