2:56 AM Fri 11 Sep 2009 GMT
The 2009 Powerboat P1 World Champions will be crowned this weekend as the curtain is drawn on another action-packed year of the world's premier offshore racing series. Insiders tip OSG and Baia for glory.
At around six-o'clock on Sunday evening, in the sensational Sicilian city of Siracusa, the principal scholars of the SuperSport and Evolution classes will proudly stand head and shoulders above their peers on top of the podium after an enduring season, both in the boatyards and on the water.
It's been 127 days since May's championship opener in Valletta, Malta and subsequently the breathtaking five months of powerboat racing has almost certainly written the best chapter in the competition's seven year history.
All 14 teams, plus SuperSport Class wild-card entries Team Rana, will power off Sicily's sparkling Adriatic shores for what promises to be a dramatic end to another bumpy season.
Mathematically, five teams are gunning for glory, albeit only four realistically harbor hopes of walking away with Powerboat P1 gold on Sunday.
Can Baia Attolini catch Seagull Chaudron?: Reigning SuperSport champions Angelo Tedeschi, Aaron Ciantar and their 2009 recruit Viktor Shemshuk currently head the open-canopy class standings by 20-points from chasing Italian trio Stefano Acanfora, Roy Capasso and Renato Guidi from Baia Attolini.
The pacesetting Seagull Chaudron triumvirate has barely put a foot wrong this year, having only finished outside of the top-three on two occasions. However their nearest challengers have momentum of their side, benefiting from a greater confidence since their maiden victory in San Benedetto del Tronto.
Given Tedeschi and Ciantar's championship pedigree, especially at the nitty-gritty end of the year, it would take a brave man to bet against the existing SuperSport kings, according to Big Sergio pilot, Alfredo Nuzzo. "They have a healthy lead and are very reliable so it will be difficult for Baia Attolini to catch them."
Fellow Italian pilots Giancarlo Cangiano from SNAV OSG and Matteo Nicolini of Cigarette Smash Poker from the Evolution Class reinforce Nuzzo's argument, highlighting the Ukrainian Spirit's clear advantage, coupled with Tedeschi's tactical nous and expertise, will prove decisive, if as expected, the Sicilian waters are a little choppy come Sunday.
Opinion is split throughout the dry-pits as to which of the title chasers will emerge triumphant in Siracusa. Daniel Cramphorn of Team SW1 Capital, who can boast an unparalleled four race victories so far in 2009, is hedging his bets on fellow Donzi-manufactured boatyard boys Baia Attolini. Spirit of Belgium pilot Patrick Huybrechts concurs, suggesting that "luck is on Baia's side."
Having won the last two titles, Tedeschi is in pole position to make it a hat-trick of victories. Unsurprisingly, Tedeschi and fellow countryman Guidi have refused to start a war-of-words between the teams but both remain confident ahead of the season-finale.
'Of course I think we can win. Everything is still open as far as I am concerned,' says Guidi. Team-mate Acanfora is more bullish about his team's chances. 'I really believe we can win because we have proved we can finish ahead of Tedeschi recently, so we are confident that it can happen again in Sicily.'
Tedeschi said: "I don't want to pick a winner but it's great to be in first place before the racing begins and hopefully we can stay there until Sunday."
Seagull Chaudron (756-points) leads the SuperSport Class from Baia Attolini (736-points) with Spirit of Belgium (646-points) in pole position to finish third given their 113-point lead from Team SW1 Capital (533-points)
Silverline vs. SNAV OSG: The big tactical debate in the Evolution Class will be the examination between Silverline's reliable Stirling engine and the raw pace and championship mettle of SNAV OSG. The British team of Drew Langdon and Jan Falkowski hold a 75-point lead going into the weekend despite not finishing in the top two all season.
Evolution Class victors three years ago, OSG have powered past the checkered flag in first position in four of the eight races this season and will be cursing their failure to score in Istanbul, during rounds three and four, when they couldn't fire a newly fitted engine before Sunday's Endurance Race.
The Italians realistically need to win both races and claim the bonus 50-point reliability points on offer and hope Silverline suffer the unthinkable to get their paws on the Evolution title.
'In my opinion, SNAV deserve the title for the way they have raced this year. I think this might be one race too far for the Silverline boat,' says Cranefields Wine throttleman Gino Passchier.
Marco Pennesi argues that it will come down to the British team holding their nerve, having been the perennial bridesmaids on three occasions previously: 'If they continue to stay calm they will win the title. They have demonstrated great consistency and have showed brilliant endurance qualities throughout the season.'
Falkowski has thrown down the gauntlet to his long-term friend Cangiano, saying "it will be interesting to see if OSG think about the Championship or racing flat out for the overall Grand Prix of the Sea victory.
"We've been consistent all season and the boat's been extremely reliable, but it looks like it will go right down to the final checkered flag with the top three places still up for grabs."
A passionate Cangiano argues it will be OSG's own fault should they fail to finish the season on a high. 'If we lose it will be our fault. The championship is ours for the taking because I do not see any giants around me, who are capable of challenging us. '
Silverline (646-points) currently lead the Evolution Class World Championship points from nearest challengers SNAV OSG (571-points) with Cigarette Smash Poker (542-points) an outside bet in third position.
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by Powerboat P1 PR
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Macquarie Island, TAS
