Panatta takes on Venice-Monte Carlo

Wednesday 18 June 2008

Adriano Panatta has made a welcome return to Powerboat P1 this year in the #76 Italcraft boat

Italian Powerboat P1 entrant Adriano Panatta is taking on one of offshore racing’s most evocative and punishing endurance challenges by attempting to break the record for the Venice-Monte Carlo run. The current record for the 1805-kilometre trip is held by boat designer Fabio Buzzi, Monica Rampezzotti, Gianfranco Zanoni and Antonio Binda, at 23 hours and 55 mins – an average speed of 87 km/h.

Panatta will be using his Seatek diesel-powered Binautica hull for the Venice Monte Carlo run, which is scheduled to take place at some point in July, weather permitting. This means that Panatta’s Inrizzardi Racing Team will once again be using the Seatek-powered Metamarine hull that they raced as the #76 Italcraft entry in the Malta Grand Prix of the Sea at the upcoming Tunisian Grand Prix of the Sea on July 11-13.

The Binautica hull is expected to return to the Powerboat P1 championship for the Spanish Grand Prix of the Sea in Vigo on September 12-14 as the team continues to prepare it for a full assault on the championship in 2009.

Panatta – who has competed in the Venice-Monte Carlo seven times before in its previous incarnation – will be accompanied in the boat by Mario Invernizzi and Corrado Rizzardi for the July assault. “The Venice-Monte Carlo is a fascinating and prestigious challenge,” Panatta said. “We are preparing the boat for the record. Beating it will depend on many factors, but we’ll certainly be giving it our best shot.”

To read more about Adriano Panatta’s return to the Powerboat P1 championship, click here.