2009 UIM-WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship Calendar

9:55 AM Thu 22 Jan 2009 GMT

'Mina Seyahi Grand Prix 2008
Photo: Simon Palfrader?' Class-1 World Powerboat Championship &copy

The 2009 UIM-WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship is set for an outstanding year, with Championship Organiser, IOTA (International Offshore Team Association), confirming one of the strongest line-ups of recent years, two new venues on the calendar - Alicante, Spain and Stresa, Italy - with a possible third new venue to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Speaking at today's press conference at BOOT D?sseldorf, IOTA General Secretary, Marco Sala announced a 12 boat line-up for the season, which sees the 2007/8 Australian Offshore Champions, Maritimo, fielding a two-boat line-up, running their new Class 1 design, new pilots coming into the Championship and the likelihood of a new team and 13th boat to be confirmed. 'The outlook for this season is very positive and the line-up is one of the strongest in recent years,' said Sala. 'The sport continues to grow both geographically and commercially. We have strengthened our position in Europe with the return of Spain and Italy which are very important to the Championship, and we have consolidated our ties with our established venues as we look forward to racing in the Far East in 2010.'

The prospect of an exciting season's racing is further fuelled by the introduction of a series of new rules which focus on reducing costs, improving the level of competition amongst the teams and broadening the level of entry of boats into the Championship.

The rules include the introduction of a new engine-boat package, 11.5m - 13m in length, weighing 4100kgs running 790hp naturally aspirated engines, the appointment of a sole propeller manufacturer for the Championship with teams limited to a maximum of three sets for the season, and the removal of all electronic devices.

The season starts in Doha, Qatar on 25 April, with the Championship then heading to Europe for five, possibly six races, opening its European campaign in Alicante and closing it in Stresa, before heading back to the Middle East for two races, ending the season with the UAE Grand Prix in Dubai.

2009 CALENDAR

23 - 25 April: QATAR GP - Doha
14 - 16 May: RESERVE DATE
5 - 7 June: SPANISH GP - Alicante
3 - 5 July: RUSSIAN GP - Moscow (tbc)
17 - 19 July: NORWEGIAN GP - Arendal
28 - 30 August: ROMANIAN GP - Constanta
11-13 September: UKRAINIAN GP (tbc)
2 - 4 October: ITALIAN GP - Stresa
18 - 20 November: MIDDLE EAST GP (tbc)
10 - 12 December: DUBAI GP - Dubai

(the Championship will consist of a minimum of 8 races)

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2009 UIM-WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship Calendar

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