US-backed teams look to 2009 after Key West

11:38 AM Sat 22 Nov 2008 GMT

'The 77 Lucas Oil team won the Super Vee Unlimited world title at Key West in November2009' U.I.M Powerboat P1 World Championship - &copy

Two of Powerboat P1's US-backed teams have put together the perfect kickstart for their 2009 title campaigns with world championship wins in the recent races at Key West. The reigning Evolution class champion #99 Fountain Worldwide crew and a new-look #77 Lucas Oil line-up both tastes success at the Florida-based event.

The #77 Lucas Oil boat of team boss / throttleman Nigel Hook and new, returning pilot Joe Sgro took the Super V Unlimited world championship, giving the Outerlimits SV43 hull and Chief engines package that they will use in Powerboat P1 in 2009 its first competition try-out.

'We proved this week that Outerlimits is not only the fastest and stable V-hull, but also that the quality of the rigging and craftsmanship of finish makes it the most reliable V-boat,' said Hook this week. 'The boat was easy to handle and extremely predictable. The acceleration - with the Chief engines and Whipple Superchargers - was unreal.'

The #99 Fountain Worldwide crew of pilot James Sheppard and team boss / throttleman Craig Wilson added the 'Production 1' world championship to their second consecutive Powerboat P1 Evolution class title. They missed out on the Super V Unlimited title due to technical problems in one of the races.

The 99 Fountain Worldwide team won the Production 1 world title at Key West in November 2009 - U.I.M Powerboat P1World Championship - &copy

'Winning two world titles in one year, in seven countries on three different continents is an amazing accomplishment,' said Wilson. 'It just goes to prove that Fountain hulls, powered by Ilmor engines, is the best package in the world.'

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by Powerboat P1 media