Class 1 World Powerboat Championship - Zabo Racing revises line-up

by Class 1 on 7 Apr 2011 Class 1 World Powerboat Championship - Ugur Isik will climb back into the cockpit of a Class 1 raceboat in next week’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 13-15 April, to take the wheel in Relekta alongside Norwegian throttleman, Christian Zaborowski.

Paul Gaiser, who partnered Zaborowski to take the team’s first podium in Abu Dhabi last season, remains very much involved and is retained as their number two driver. 'Due to business commitments in South America, Paul has found it difficult to be in a position to race the entire 2011 season, and has therefore stepped aside to allow the team to focus on winning the World Championship,' said Zabo Racing’s team manager, Adrian Annett.

The call-up for Isik sees the Turkish racer back in Class 1 for his first competitive outing in over a decade. 'It’s a tough year to be making a comeback,' he said. 'There are many big names racing this year. For sure it will be tough but the team is well prepared and has a very competitive package. We will give it our best shot.'

A prominent and familiar face in powerboat circles around the world, both on and off the water; he made his powerboat race debut in 1994 in the Istanbul Offshore Powerboat Championship, winning the title for the next two years.

He made his Class 1 debut in 1998, going on to compete in 19 races over the next two years, taking his first podium in Dubai in 1999. Off the water he is also no slouch, winning the Turkish Stock Car Championship four times and the Off Road Championship once.

As an event organiser he held six highly successful Class 1 Grand Prix in Turkey; three in Istanbul in 1998, 1999, 2000, Bodrum in 1999, Marmaris in 2000 and in Izmir as the promoter of Class 1 in 2002.

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