La Rochelle welcomes F1 Boat Racing

by Philippe Stiernon on 19 May 2007 The U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating returns to the country of France for the first time since the year 2000 as the port city of lovely La Rochelle on the West Coast will play host to their first ever F1 event as the 18th Grand Prix of France will be held on the weekend of the 19th and 20th of May.

F1 power boat racing is nothing new to this progressive race orientated country as during the first ever season of U.I.M. F1 racing back in 1981 the city of Vichy in central France hosted the Grand Prix of France. The city of Lyon in Southeast France took up the race in 1983 and 1985, while the French capital of Paris hosted two events in 1984. The race was then moved to East Central France and the charming city of Chalon-sur-Saone where the race was held for the next 11 years thru the 2000 season.

The late Cees van der Velden of the Netherlands won the very first French Grand Prix event in 1981 and again in Paris in 1984. These wins sandwiched the victories of Italian legend multi-time World Champion Renato Molinari who won in Vichy in 1982, Lyon in 1983 and Paris in 1984.

Drivers from Great Britain have done well in France with Bob Spalding taking a win in Lyon in 1985, while Welsh driver Jonathan Jones won twice in Chalon in 1991 and again in 1994. Italian Guido Cappellini has won the most with victories in Chalon in 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Current World Champion Scott Gillman of the Emirates Team won in Chalon his very first time in 1997 on his way to his first of four world titles.

'I'm really excited about going back to France once again,' stated the Los Angeles native. 'France is a special place for power boat racing and it's wonderful that it is back on the schedule and the great thing about this event is the race course will be challenging, something I really look forward to doing.'

Speaking of the challenge, the inner harbour which is encircled by walls all the way around it, will make this one of the roughest race course to run on, similar to the one that was won by native son Philippe Dessertenne when he took victory in the inner harbour of Helsinki back in 2002 at the Grand Prix of Finland. The lead driver of the CTIC China - Charente Maritime Team has worked tirelessly in securing the site to put on the calendar.

'This has been a multi year project and I feel like a new father in helping bring this dream along to everyone,' stated Philippe. 'The area is so lovely, but sometimes I feel my people don't know how magnificent it really is. Now they are going to see it for themselves and I will be so excited to give them a tour of this unique area near my home.'

Only nine of the scheduled 22 drivers that are expected to start the 18th Grand Prix of France have ever raced in this country for a F1 event. Of these active drivers, only Cappellini and Gillman have ever won in France. So, this means many new faces wil be hoping to go for glory as the U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating returns to France and the lovely port city of La Rochelle on the West Coast the weekend of the 19th and 20th of May. Bon voyage.