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Powerboat racing returns to Jersey

1st June 2011 Print

Britain’s best powerboat racers return to Jersey when the prestigious P1 SuperStock Championship blasts into St Aubin’s Bay on June 10/11 and new P1 Panther boat makes its eagerly anticipated racing debut.

The opening round of the five-event championship sees the striking new 250hp Panther boat break cover as promoter Powerboat P1 sets out to dramatically drive down the cost of national level powerboat racing thanks to its new 250hp one-make class.

The Peters & May Jersey Grand Prix of the Sea will be a weekend of close to shore action, with intense one-on-one match racing on Saturday and spectacular mass-start racing on Sunday. This spectator-friendly format creates a free to see festival of motorsport where fans can watch powerboat racing from land.

For the P1 SuperStock teams, the Jersey race is the start of  a season-long ‘Race to Liverpool’ that leads to the championship finale in Albert Dock in September. “It’s great to see big time powerboat racing return to the Channel Islands, where there have been some memorable races in the past. Jersey is the perfect place for the P1 Panther to make it’s racing debut in UK waters and for our teams to start their 2011 campaign”, commented P1 Chief Operating Officer Robert Wicks.” I believe spectators and teams will love the excitement of our new racing format and close to shore action.”

Jersey's Minister for Economic Development Senator Alan Maclean said "Broadcast footage of these championships will showcase Jersey on SKY TV to millions of viewers as a vibrant and exciting destination and will be a welcome boost for our vitally important tourism industry".

Powerboat P1 kicks off its new-look championship in a location that is expected to challenge teams to the maximum. The huge Jersey tide is expected to play a role in shaping the races, whilst wind direction in St Aubin’s Bay itself could be another factor and may lead to the 70mph boats becoming airborne.

Competitors will race on two specific courses in St Aubin’s Bay, with Saturday’s Match Races on a tight, three-buoy course navigated in a ‘paperclip’ direction. On Sunday competitors will be racing laps of approximately 2.26nm length, located close to the shore and in front of thousands of spectators.

The P1 SuperStock Championship has a simple two-class structure. The new 250hp P1 Panther 28SS boat runs exclusively in the main P1 250 Class backed up by a separate class, P1 150, for sleek, mono-hull 150hp craft.

And for Jersey-based Team Fox having the opening round on home territory is a massive bonus, as team boss Martin Colligan explains: “There was a time when powerboat racing was big news here and it’s absolutely great to see it returning with P1 SuperStock. I can’t wait for the flag to drop at the start-line.”

With wet and dry pits, spectator viewing area and a special ExpoZone focused around St Helier’s attractive waterfront area, crowds will have  unparalleled views of the drivers, teams and craft.

St Aubins bay forms a natural amphitheatre for the P1 SuperStock spectacle, be it from the raised terrace bar of the Grand Hotel, the La Fregate cafe, Elizabeth Castle or along the beach front. Race event headquarters for the event with commentary is in the centre of the bay at the layby west of First Tower. The race pits are to be installed on in St Helier harbour on number five pontoon.

P1’s double-bill brings both thrilling SuperStock powerboat racing and its exciting new stable-mate AquaX to town. AquaX is the UK’s only jet ski race series on the sea and it enjoyed a highly successful start to its season in Southampton on 20th May. It is specifically designed to attract amateur riders to take to the sea and follows the same race format as SuperStock, with match races on Saturday followed by rally-style racing on Sunday.

The Peters & May Jersey Grand Prix of the Sea race timetable:

Saturday, 11th June

Match Races P1 150 - 14:30
Match Races P1 Panther 250 - 15:15
Match Races AquaX - 16:15 

Sunday 12th June 2011      

Freestyle Jetski Display  - 13:00 
P1 Panther 250/P1 150 Race 1 - 14:00 
AquaX Endurance Race 1 - 15:00
P1 Panther 250/P1 510 Race 2 - 16:00 
AquaX Endurance Race 2 - 17:00 

Prize Giving – Overall Podium Ceremony P1 SuperStock and AquaX - 18:00 

For more information, visit: p1superstock.com