#99 Fountain Worldwide win Italian GP of the Sea
Sunday 11 May 2008
#99 Fountain's Craig Wilson and James Sheppard celebrate their Italian GP of the Sea win
What could have been a nightmare weekend turned into a dream weekend to remember for the #99 Fountain Worldwide reigning Evolution champion pairing of pilot James Sheppard and throttleman Craig Wilson as they took victory in today’s Sprint race and secured the Italian Grand Prix of the Sea trophy.
Sheppard and Wilson had faced a nerve-racking wait as transport problems meant their Ilmor-powered Fountain boat was delayed in the USA. Despite the boat arriving in the San Benedetto del Tronto harbour at 06:00am on Saturday morning, the duo fought back in the Endurance race to start their title defence in superb style.
It was a return to their dominant winning ways of 2007 in today’s Sprint event. Sheppard and Wilson established a clear lead on the opening lap and were never headed as they completed the run to the chequered flag. But that doesn’t mean their win was easy.
“It was the most difficult first turn that I’ve ever experienced,” said Sheppard. “We were fourth or fifth and blind going around the first corner. I couldn’t see a thing for the first two turns. But our little boat with the little engines won big.”
Wilson was equally delighted to the win, but paid special attention to a larger significance for the team. "Our hats are off to the entire crew, and we dedicate this race and this weekend to Reggie Fountain’s mom, Lucile, who passed away on Monday," he said. "We dedicate this to all mothers, as it’s Mother’s Day in the States, and I send love to my mom."
Finishing second in the sprint was local hero Marco Pennesi and his throttleman Giampaolo Montavoci in the Veneta Marina Metamarine Corse-run #60 GFN Gibellato. The diesel Seatek-powered entry was the only boat able to keep up consistently with the #99 Fountain Worldwide entry, and Penessi’s podium finish was a perfect way to celebrate in the harbour where his Metamarine team is based.
“It is great – absolutely amazing,” he said. “It is so satisfying for the citizens of San Benedetto and for all of those responsible for making this boat. It could not be better to be on the podium in my home town.”
In third came the #77 Lucas Oil boat of rookie Powerboat P1 pilot Shelley Jory and throttleman Nigel Hook. After briefly dropping back behind the #53 Pignolo 53 Skater Racing Team entry in the early stages, the pair fought their way past on the final lap to cap a perfect debut weekend for the new team. With another podium added to their second place in the Sprint race, they finished second in the Italian Grand Prix of the Sea standings.
“We had a good start, but there was an error –possibly my fault – because it was so hectic, and we missed the mark,” Jory admitted. “It was a lesson learned for me. It is so much faster in this boat, it was very rough, and we knew we had to pick boats off. But we did it.”
That wasn't the only alarming moment for the crew. "My harness came undone and I could not get it refastened," Hook said. "We were debating stopping, but Shelley actually took the throttles and I was able to get secured. Shelley is great. It was very rough out there and she handled it with aplomb."
After the Endurance race of attrition, the Sprint event proved equally trying for some of the other leading boats in the class. Of particular note was the #88 Kiton Outerlimits entry of 2006 champion throttleman Giancarlo Cangiano and pilot Joe Sgro, which was forced out with engine failure in an almost-near repeat of their steering problems in the Endurance race. But Cangiano summed up how many of the entrants felt about the typical early-season first-round blues.
“We tested very hard because our first time in the boat was five days ago,” Cangiano said. “We had a good strategy, but bad timing. Yesterday our steering broke and today it was an engine problem, but I am an old racer and it is better now [to experience problems] than at the next race.”
But with just two weeks to the next round of the 2008 Powerboat P1 championship in Marseille, France, all the teams have a lot of work to do to catch the #99 Fountain Worldwide crew. Sheppard and Wilson will be hoping that their Italian dream weekend is just the start of another dream season.