Dubai XCAT World Series - Football legend Maradona takes the wheel

by Karien Jonckheere on 26 May 2014 At the third round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series in Naples, Italy today Argentinean football legend Diego Maradona got his first taste of driving an XCAT powerboat . Maradona, who is hailed as a hero in Naples after guiding the city’s football team to glory in the 1980s, took the wheel of Six with Italian powerboating stalwart, Matteo Nicolini as his throttleman.

'I won!' Maradona quipped as he returned to the pontoon after reaching a speed of 90 miles an hour out on the water. 'It’s great to be part of the XCAT World Series again, especially here in Naples – a city I love so much.'

Nicolini, meanwhile, was impressed with Maradona’s driving skills. 'He was very excited about the speed and really liked it. I think he could be a good driver. A champion like him could be a champion in any sport,' he said.

Maradona is due to take in the Napoli GP later in the afternoon which will kick off at 3.30pm local time, with Naples team Cantiere Postiglione in pole position.