3:56 AM Mon 7 Dec 2009 GMT
The current stars of Powerboat P1 are looking forward to sharing the limelight in 2010, giving the inclusion of the Formula Four Stroke Championship on next year's racing calendar the thumbs up.
The British championship, which ran for a decade in partnership with Honda, has nurtured some of the finest current crop of Powerboat P1 talent and P1 Radio commentator Martin Sanborn feels it will continue to prove a great stepping stone in the future: 'As with many classes involving boats that are smaller and less powerful, the opportunity to see racers move up into larger classes is a natural progression.
'We have already seen two great examples of this with Shelley Jory and James Sheppard, who have both realised success in Powerboat P1, having come from F4SA. I believe the series will be a great addition to our spectacular show and will give the venues more bang for their buck.'
#66 Cranefields Wine pilot Mark Niemann also made the step up to Powerboat P1 having started his career in F4SA: 'This is a great addition for the spectators as F4SA is one of the toughest series in powerboat racing.
"The series is a good playground for Powerboat P1 prospects and I believe that if you can race the Honda powerboats, you can race anything. It is a platform on which to prove your driving skills, and I would definitely like to race in the series again sometime.'
Niemann's Cranefields Wine teammate Siegfried 'Sigi' Greve thinks the fans will be in for a treat next season: 'There is certain to be even more spectacular action on the water and the addition of more racing classes is sure to generate more interest from the marine industry as well. Powerboat P1 is becoming something that motor-racing fans will not want to miss out on.'
Belgian star Pierre Colpin, whose Furnibo team finished third in last season's Evolution Class World Championship also feels that the inclusion of the F4SA series can only be good for Powerboat P1: 'Their arrival will certainly add value, not only to Powerboat P1, but also to the events themselves. The racing is spectacular and very closely contested, so I'm sure the fans will love it!'
www.powerboatp1.com
by Powerboat P1 Media
|
Double Is Pt, QLD
