Australians ahead with F1 Powerboat Crash Box changes

by Philippe Stiernon on 12 May 2007 Bob and David Trask's XPV Racing team based in Brisbane have trialling the new F1 Powerboat crash boxes add-on’s to the hull, over their summer in the Australian F1 series, getting used to the handling characteristics.

The long awaited new era of extra driver protection mandated by the governing body of F1 racing, the Union of International Motonautique (U.I.M.), will be introduced at the opening round of the new 2007 U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating at this upcoming weekend’s 9th Annual Grand Prix of Portugal in Portimao on the Algarve coast.

The added protection for F1 competitors has taken different routes by the six different boat manufacturers with different shapes and a 're-think' by the designers to figure a way to keep both aerodynamics and center of gravity concerns answered with the added weight that will be placed on the front of the racing hulls with the added crash protection.

The XPV Racing team based in Brisbane, Australia has probably more time with the new Crash Boxes add-on’s to the hull with good weather in the Southern Hemisphere this past winter along with the national Australian F1 series getting underway both Bob and brother David Trask along with their skilled designers and crew have been very active in their pursuit in getting the upper hand of these new boats.

'Needless to say, these boats are handling a bit differently with the crash boxes added and it will be very, very interesting to see how they run together at the opening race in Portugal,' said Bob. 'We’ve done our homework and we feel we are ready for this 'new era' as we’ll know in a few days how we did over the (European) winter.'

Defending World Champion Scott Gillman of the Emirates Team, who has always been a visionary when it comes to new and different designs and who gathered up his fourth title last season despite trying three different boats in the process, has continued to try out different hulls during the time he is preparing to defend his championship.

'I have always been someone who is looking for something that is new and a little different than most to have an edge on the competition,' stated Scott. 'I don’t follow everyone else and sometimes this has gotten me in trouble like in the draught I went through during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. I look forward seeing how this new ruling plays out. It makes everyone rethink their driving style.'

Portugal's native son Duarte Benavente is going to lead the charge of the new and somewhat radical Dragon designed boat that was developed in Wales by multi-time past World Champion Jonathan Jones who has taken the new rules to his wind tunnel testing facility at a local university and shaped up a lovely looking example of the era boats.

He has also added an air scoop that has been used so successful by American designer David Lee whose boat has won 9 straight wins on the Champ Boat North American F1 tour in going back to the 2005 season.

Four of the racing hulls participating in the lovely city of Portimao this weekend will be Italian made with the BABA, Blaze, Comparato and DAC hulls ready to hopefully take their drivers to a win. The DAC hull built in Como, Italy has won all 9 races at the Grand Prix of Portugal since its inception back in 1999.

Twenty-two drivers from nine different nations will be ready to take the start of the Grand Prix of Portugal on the Arade River Sunday, May 13th and for the first time in the U.I.M. F1 World Championship dating back to 1982, no driver from Great Britain is registered to race in the event.

At the same time four new faces will be on hand with three of these battling for Rookie-of-the-Year honors at seasons end.

It will be interesting to see how Ahmed Al Hamli of the Emirates Team, Leo Bonelli of the Qatar Team and Philippe Tourre of F1 Team Sweden handle themselves in their first full season on the U.I.M. F1 World Championship.

Stay tuned.