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 Most people when asked about Powerboating normally respond by saying “wealthy guys in really fast boats” writes Barry McGovern, an industry consultant who was recently Interim CEO at PowerboatP1 and has also been commercial director at Worldsport.com and a director at BSkyB.
Sailors too have strong opinions about the sport and sadly mostly negative. So when I was asked in February 2007, by the main investor behind PowerboatP1 (the world championship of Powerboating) to be interim CEO for a season, I had mixed thoughts - what was this sport really all about?
I quickly found out that this sport is a fascinating niche sport with totally committed competitors and enthusiasts. I spent eight months running the business and during that time the Board of P1 agreed to source experienced management from motorracing to come in and run the business and to take it to another new and higher level.
Meanwhile my challenge was to understand the sport and run the seasons’ championship events, master the nuances and deliver against budget - as well as understanding the characters that inevitably populate any such sport!
I was told quickly by the principal investor Asif Ragoonwalla that as well as the aforementioned aims I had to “raise the bar” in terms of delivery of the event both on the water and off it. He wanted his investment to be materially enhanced - and who can blame him! Highlights from 2007 What I am now going to describe is an overview of the season and the highlights of the PowerboatP1 experience.
2007 was the most eagerly awaited season in the history of this dynamic World Championship and, on-and-off track, it did not disappoint. For the third consecutive season the outcome of this action-packed race series would not be decided until the final race weekend.
The high expectations of organisers, teams, manufacturers, sponsors and media had much to do with the record number of competitors, including the first all-American entry competing in the prototype (Evolution) class, whilst in the production (SuperSport) class the championship secured its first ever Formula One-style engine/manufacturer tie-up. That partnership, between Sunseeker and FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies), would lead the way to a second when US boat manufacturer Fountain Worldwide and specialist engine builder Ilmor confirmed its participation. Two major luxury brands and two of the worlds most respected engine producers sent out the clearest message to-date that Powerboat P1 is the marine industries preferred ‘test bed’ and global showcase.
The stunning backdrop of the historic Valletta Harbour is now a familiar P1 landmark with Malta, for the fourth consecutive year, providing the venue for the seasons first Grand Prix of the Sea. Although treacherous conditions would force the cancellation of the second leg, the first leg - the Round-the-Island race - set the scene for the year; large crowds packed along promenades, huge flotillas of spectator boats and spectacular race action from fearless pilots, all demonstrating supreme tactical awareness and seamanship of the highest standards.
It was business as usual in the first race with the 2006 World Champions in both classes taking the honours. British entry, Extremeboat, in Supersport, and Italian OSG Racing in Evolution, won with margin to spare although not before the all-American Outerlimits Powerboats team had demonstrated its potential, leading the race before a blown water pump forced its retirement. With waves of up to six-metres it was not without some relief to the battered and bruised bodies and boats that Sunday’s shorter race was cancelled. An impromptu time-trial was then arranged to provide a show for the thousands of spectators lining the ancient harbour walls.
The Italian Grand Prix of the Sea followed in Naples, where the eventual world champions in both classes posted their intentions in the most effective way possible. SuperSport’s Racing Project were dominant in front of a home crowd, winning both races with their newly built Mercruiser-powered Chaudron and, in Evolution, the Ilmor-powered Fountain produced a masterclass double-win in its debut race. Both boats won again in Travemunde, Germany, although the German Grand Prix of the Sea will be remembered for the racing accident that resulted in the tragic loss of pilot and team owner, Sergio Carpentieri, one of P1’s most popular and experienced racers.
Halfway at Cowes  The 2007 Powerboat P1 World Championship had reached the halfway stage when 16 boats lined up in Cowes for the British Grand Prix of the Sea and, in Supersport, Racing Project were now leading, closely followed by British contenders Bullet Racing, Extremeboat and VoomVoom.com. The Chinese entry, Ocean Dragon Racing, was also well positioned. In Evolution, Fountain Worldwide topped the table from Wettpunkt.com, OSG and Outerlimits. By the end of another dramatic race weekend, where P1 headlines one of Europe’s most prestigious and historic powerboat festivals, Grand Prix wins for Outerlimits and Extremeboat ensured that the championship would remain in the balance as the teams crossed the Channel for the penultimate round in Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Racing in the North Sea is always a challenge for man-and-machine and the Belgium Grand Prix of the Sea lived up to expectations with the high seas creating spectacular and challenging race conditions. The drama in P1 comes thick-and-fast and so it did in Zeebrugge where Outerlimits, despite dominating the weekends racing, ran out of fuel on the final lap of Saturdays 80 nautical mile Endurance race to lose further ground to Fountain. OSG finished second to stay in the title hunt, despite suffering major hull damage. In SuperSport, Extremeboat dominated both races although they were subsequently disqualified for a technical infringement. The Belgium GP was won by Racing Project with VoomVoom.com second and Team Sunseeker third.
The season finalé took place in Portimão, Portugal, with the Marina di Portimão providing one of the finest possible venues for a P1 event. Spectator friendly, spacious and with a packed programme of entertainment on-and-off the water, Portimão has recognised the potential of P1 as a global marketing platform to attract business and high-end tourism. The World Championship will be returning for the final European rounds in 2008 and 2009.
On the water, Racing Project and Fountain Worldwide won their respective first-leg races to take GP, and subsequently the World Championship crowns, as storm conditions forced the cancellation of the final race. Angelo Tedeschi, Fabio Magnani and Ugo Pellegrino deservedly won the SuperSport title with eight podium finishes including four wins whilst James Sheppard and Craig Wilson achieved five wins from just 8 starts in Evolution.
During the season, 10 different engine manufacturers and 13 boat builders were represented in P1’s six Grand Prix events and over 280,000 people attended. TV coverage of the Powerboat P1 World Championship was beamed into homes across 80 countries worldwide.
So my overall assessment of the season was that PowerboatP1 can now look forward with confidence to a future where the sport will become less of a niche sport and much more of a spectator and enthusiast- driven fun packed weekend of water and land excitement.
Contact Barry McGovern on +44(0) 7887 841100 or bmcgovern@aol.com Powerboating images pictured courtesy of Getty Images Sport/Stephen Munday
Next month, S&T will take a closer look at the technology involved in Powerboating.
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