Maritimo confirm Two Boat Entry in bid for Class 1 title in 2009

11:56 AM Tue 13 Jan 2009 GMT

'Class 1 World Powerboats Championship 2008 - Round 7
Mina Seyahi Grand Prix
Photo: Simon Palfrader?' Class-1 World Powerboat Championship &copy

Australia's Maritimo Racing Team has confirmed they will enter two of their new specification Class 1 raceboats in their bid for international race and title honours in 2009.

The new lighter hull, powered by two Mercury 790 V8s - designed and built by Australia's premiere manufacturer of long-range luxury motoryachts, Maritimo - was unveiled in Dubai at the end of last year, finishing in fifth place on its race debut.

'In some ways, it was disappointing that we had no time to test before taking the boat out of the box, but what we saw was very encouraging,' said Maritimo team owner, Bill Barry-Cotter. 'We identified some fundamental issues, the main one being the rudder configuration, but we will put them right and make one or two other minor modifications before Doha.'

The 2007-8 Australian Offshore Superboat Champions, Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Virik Nilsen, who competed in three Class 1 races last year, posting two top-six finishes, will head the two-boat assault, with the experienced straight-talking New Zealand throttleman, Peter 'Muddy' McGrath, joined in the second boat by Italian, Giorgio Manuzzi, who raced last year alongside Nicola Giorgi in SeveneleveN.