12:41 AM Sun 5 Jul 2009 GMT
SNAV OSG recovered from a freak first-lap spin-out to score a sensational victory in Saturday's Evolution Class Sprint Race at the Italian Grand Prix of the Sea.
The Italians capitalised on their rivals, Cigarette Smash Poker's, sixth-lap spin-out - notably at the very same southern buoy as the eventual winners - to power to their second win of the 2009 Powerboat P1 World Championship.
Managing the perfect Central Adriatic racing conditions better than the pacy Lucas Oil Outerlimits and Metamarine Pignolo hulls, there was little to separate between Italy's two premier Evolution Class teams, who were neck-and-neck throughout.
Triumphant SNAV OSG Pilot Giancarlo Cangiano said: 'It was the most exciting race for me so far this year, particularly as all the boats were very close together and we were chased all the way by Luca and his team. They could have won but we just beat them and I'm very happy.'
One half of the disappointed Cigarette Smash Poker setup, Luca Formilli-Fendi was left to rue what could've been. He said: 'After they span out we had an advantage. Unfortunately for us they got faster and faster and it was difficult to stay ahead. I'm disappointed for us and for everyone here because if we had not spun out - the finish could have been so exciting!'
In the SuperSport Class, it was a case of same national flag but a different powerboat, as Neapolitan SuperSport World Champion, Angelo Tedeschi, continued his ongoing two-year love-affair with top place on the podium.
Expertly partnered by young gun, Aaron Ciantar, Tedeschi's Seagull Chaudron led from start-to-finish, proving the Chaudron is still the powerboat to beat, even in the calmer seas.
Tedeschi put the victory down to his team's supreme driving skills. He said: 'The secret is to drive well. We have a fantastic driver, we have a fantastic navigator and maybe I also did a good job too. You have to make sure everything is working perfectly from driver to boat to throttleman - everyone!
Evolution Class Classified Results:
1. #88 SNAV OSG (Giancarlo Cangiano / Giovanni Carpitella) Time: 00:32:09.89
2. #10 Cigarette Smash Poker (Luca Formilli Fendi / Matteo Nicolini) 00:32:27.99
3. #53 Metamarine Pignolo 53 (Marco Pennesi / Luca Nicolini) 00:33:49.73
4. #66 Cranefield Wines (Mark Niemann / Gino Passchier) 00:39:35.22
5. #77 Lucas Oil Outerlimits (Joe Sgro / Nigel Hook) 00:33:13.82*
6. #47 Silverline (Jan Falkowski / Drew Langdon) 00:41:52.58**
7. #33 Furnibo (Frank Hemelaer / Pierre Colpin) DNS
*8 laps completed
**7 laps completed
Points:
1. #88 SNAV OSG - 100 points
2. #10 Cigarette Smash Poker - 90
3. #53 Metamarine Pignolo 53 - 81
4. #66 Cranefield Wines - 73
5. #77 Lucas Oil Outerlimits - 66
6. #47 Silverline - 60
7. #33 Furnibo - 0
SuperSport Classified Results:
1. #43 Seagull Chaudron (Aaron Ciantar / Angelo Tedesci / Viktor Shemchuk) 00:34:15.53
2. #38 Baia Attolini (Stefano Acanfora / Renato Guidi / Roy Capasso) 00:34:17.68
3. #44 Iko Casa (Shelley Jory / Audrien Ciantar) 00:34:24.07
4. #26 Team SW1 Capital (Daniel Cramphorn / Kim Collins) 00:34:33.68
5. #17 MasForce (Micha Robyn / Patrick Huybreghts / Marc Sluszny) 00:36:01.21
6. #22 Big Sergio (Alfredo Nuzzo / Alfredo Amato) 00:37:38.66
7. #28 Blue Shaft (Gianbattista Gabriele / Alfredo Zanardo / Federico Montanari) DNF
Wild Cards:
#59 Saho (Maurizio Di Stasio / Federico Terenziani)
#08 Phoenix 08 (Martin Lai)
Points:
1. #43 Seagull Chaudron - 100 points
2. #38 Baia Attolini - 90
3. #44 Iko Casa - 81
4. #26 Team SW1 Capital - 73
5. #17 MasForce - 66
6. #28 Blue Shaft - 0
7. #22 Big Sergio - 0
www.powerboatp1.com
by Sam Feasey
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Macquarie Island, TAS
