US RACE TEAMS RECEIVE POWERBOAT P1 SUPPORT

Friday 19 March 2010

Super V Lite in the USA

Powerboat P1 USA announced today that they have finalized an agreement that paves the way for the first class of boats to run under the Powerboat P1 banner in North America. The contingency sponsorship agreement establishes a single-engine version of the Evolution class, which will run as a provisional series throughout the US for the 2010 season.

The unified class, known as Super-V-Lite throughout North America, is currently arranging its own race schedule that will see a highly competitive fleet, consisting of 14 mono-hull boats, running with multiple racing organizations in 2010 under the same set of rules. As a result, the class has been adopted as a Powerboat P1 provisional class and will be integrated into the global Powerboat P1 series beginning in 2011.

“Since they [Super-V Lite] are the only v-bottom class in the country with the same rules in each existing US organization, they are the logical choice for the Powerboat P1 USA series,” according to Martin Sanborn, director of Powerboat P1 USA. “Their simple rule format lends itself well to the power-to-weight ratio competition model of Powerboat P1, at four kilograms per horsepower.

”The agreement allows the teams to run their own race schedule, but to be eligible for the $120,000 total contingency prize purse, and a minimum number of participating boats must compete at each event. The teams can also earn points toward an overall end-of-season championship purse. As part of the contingency deal, teams must adopt some of the critical Powerboat P1 elements, including UIM-APBA membership, uniforms and boat appearance.

The class has also secured an agreement with Iceman Productions to produce a television package that will focus on the class and its teams throughout the season. This will provide the opportunity for the content to also be included in the international television production of the global Powerboat P1 show.

George Auriemma, Jr., the class spokesman and organizer, welcomes the relationship with Powerboat P1 and looks forward to the expansion of the class both in the US and internationally.

“Our class has worked hard to come together as a group and ensure that we have great competition on the race course,” according to Auriemma. “Our acceptance into the Powerboat P1 format, combined with our television package, is recognition of the level of competition and professionalism in the class.”

Powerboat P1 USA expects that their support of the class in the 2010 season will benefit all of the event producers, providing an incentive for a significant number of teams to participate in multiple events. It is also the first step toward a consolidation of the premier mono-hull configurations to reduce the number of classes, while simultaneously increasing the overall number of boats; and, the level of competition.

picture credit: freezeframevideo.net