UIM XCAT World Powerboating Series heads for South Korea
by Karien Jonckheere on 12 Apr 2016
(From left) Jex Yoon (Co-Chairman of the Preparatory Committee), HE Saif Al Ketbi (President, WPPA), Erica Young Zee Yoon (Co-Chairman of the Preparatory Committee) and Essa Kharbash (WPPA board member) at the official announcement of the South Korea XCAT GP which will take place in Seoul from 23-25 September 2016. Karien Jonckheere
Seoul, South Korea is the latest new addition to the UIM XCAT World Powerboating Series fold.
That was announced at a press conference in Dubai today attended by HE Saif Al Ketbi (President of the World Professional Powerboating Association), Essa Kharbash (WPPA board member), Sid Bensalah (Secretary General of the WPPA) and members of the preparatory committee for the Korean event.
“For the first time in XCAT history, the race, which is planned for 23-25 September, will be contested on a river in the centre of the city.
The South Korea GP will be the fourth round of the current XCAT World Series after the Dubai GP this weekend and the Lugano GP in Switzerland this June.
“This is a very exciting development for XCAT racing and we are looking forward to working together with the local organising committee to set up a race which will be truly unique – on the Han river in downtown Seoul,” said Al Ketbi.
“This will be the second new venue we are adding to the Series this year – testament to the incredible growth in interest in XCAT racing and the mark it is making on the international stage,” he added.
“South Korea, and especially the river area in Seoul is perfect for the race,” explained Erica Young Zee Yoon – Co-chairman of the race’s preparatory committee. “There will be large crowds watching and they have never seen this kind of big, international grand prix in Korea before so the goal with this race is that more people will get interested in marine sports. I hope this will be a gateway for all Korean people so we can have more events in future.
Asked whether there may be a South Korean team joining the XCAT World Series as a result of this race, Yoon added: “We do have some drivers but they have never driven XCATs so this is a good time to expose them to XCAT driving so that we can one day have a Korean XCAT team.”
Meanwhile, the 14 international teams are readying themselves for this weekend’s Dubai GP – the second round of the Series that gets underway at Dubai International Marine Club this Friday.
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