Powerboat P1- Lucas oil all geared up, New French team starts testing

by Powerboat P1 media on 10 Mar 2009 Latest news from the world of Powerboat P1.

Lucas Oil all geared up

Here’s a fresh look at the definitive livery for one of this year’s key Powerboat P1 Evolution-class title contenders. The #77 Lucas Oil team have undergone plenty of change this year, swapping from last year’s Skater/Mercury package to a new Outerlimits hull and Chief Engines.

The outfit finished seventh in the Evolution class in 2008, with podium finishes in San Benedetto in Italy and Vigo in Spain, but team boss Nigel Hook is clearly hungry to return to winning ways with a major title push this year.

'After eight years of successfully representing Lucas Oil, we’re excited to broaden our footprint in the marine marketplace and to continue to extend our presence worldwide,' he said. 'This 43 Outerlimits is absolutely the best boat for the European circuit.

Hook will be joined in the cockpit by former team-mate Joe Sgro as throttleman, while Outerlimits founder, while president Mike Fiore is keeping a close watching brief on the team as the boat builder looks to expand on its Powerboat P1 race-winning success of recent years.

The new line-up have already won Super Vee World Championship at Key West in mid-November in their first race with the new Outerlimits/Chief package.

'Not only do we have one of the fastest V-hulls ever built, but we have one of the most powerful and durable power packages available,' said Sgro. 'Chief Engines, Whipple Supercharges and Hering Propellers have given us a world championship- winning package.'

'More to come', say Tedeschi and Ciantar

Reigning SuperSport champions Angelo Tedeschi and Aaron Ciantar have said that there’s still plenty of scope for improvement in their partnership for 2009, despite an almost fault-free season in 2008.

The pair dominated the production class last year, winning all but one race and only losing that through a post-race jump start penalty.

The #44 Conam Yachts pair will partner each other again in the new #43 Ukranian Spirit team, using a Chaudron hull from the firm of Aaron’s father Charlie Ciantar and Ilmor power, following a switch from the Mercury engines used in 2008.

Tedeschi is looking to win his third straight SuperSport title, having also won the crown in 2007, but has hinted that increased competition from rival teams in the SuperSport class mean that he and Aaron will have to raise their game if they want to repeat their title success in 2009.

'It was very important for us to continue working together, because we can still always improve our driving together,' Tedeschi said. 'Last year we felt we worked very well together during the races, but I think another year together will make us improve even more.

'Aaron and I feel very confident and strong, but the experience of many years in Powerboat P1 tells us that the 2009 season will be very challenging and tough. All the teams have made strong investments to improve their boats – for example, Team Al&Al has new engines potentially more powerful than ours. This year in SuperSport there will be at least six boats at some level of performance that can win the title.'

That’s an opinion shared by Ciantar. 'It’s very important for both of us to be driving together again, because we got used to each other and feel really comfortable together in the boat,' he said. 'We had a very good run in 2008, and we are looking forward to another successful season in 2009. This year both Angelo and I are eager to further strengthen our driving skills in the boat so that we will retain the championship once again.'

New French Evolution team starts testing

The new French Team Quai 222 Evolution-class outfit that is entering the Powerboat P1 championship this year gave their revamped Fountain 41 hull its first major test this week.

The Mercury-powered boat – once owned by prominent US racer Dave Branch – is being run by Powerboat P1 event promoter Philippe Benhamou.

Pilot Bernard Sintes and throttleman Max Dessaux gave the boat its first proper trial runs in its new guess, and Benhamou said that team was upbeat after experiencing the boat for the first time.

'We’re very happy with the results of testing,' Benhamou said. 'We had no doubts about the potential of the boat, but we have been very surprised by how well it handles and its speed. We’ve worked on many small things, but now we have to test a lot.

'The team are now very enthusiastic, because testing is the real start of racing. Bernard and Max are eagerly awaiting the first race of the season and, even if they’re being realistic about the potential of a new boat, they’ll be working very hard to have a boat that can finish all the races and can make the podium.'

http://www.powerboatp1.com