TEAM PROFILE
The #11 Sunseeker Challenger crew mean business for 2008. They are among the most professional outfits in the sport and have been working tirelessly over the winter to hone every aspect of their Supersport campaign.
The Sunseeker hull has proved to be especially good in rougher conditions, and the team’s technicians have refined it for 2008 to give a smoother ride at the limit of the boat’s capabilities. Power comes from two 480bhp turbodiesel Fiat Powertrain Technologies engines.
The partnership between Sunseeker and FPT, now in its second year, has been high profile. Such a tie-up between a leading marine constructor and global engine manufacturer highlights the status that Powerboat P1 has achieved on the world’s sporting stage, but it also brings pressure on the team to deliver.
They certainly intend to do just that in 2008. British-based Team Sunseeker have drafted in multiple world and European powerboat champion Pete Little as throttleman for 2008. He joins existing driver Andy Wilby, an experienced powerboat pilot who will have learnt much from his first season of Powerboat P1 last season. Last year’s throttleman, Gavin Brown, has left the line-up after emigrating with his family to Australia.
Behind the scenes, team manager Mel Wilby will bring his engineering and organisational skills to bear. As a successful powerboat racer himself, he knows the importance of learning lessons and moving on. After their first full season last year, the Sunseeker FPT challenge is ready to step up to SuperSport’s top table.
2007 RECORD
The #11 Sunseeker Challenger crew will regard 2007 as valuable experience for the challenges that lie ahead this season. They certainly won’t want to finish 2008 just one place off the bottom of the points table, as they did last year. The team claimed a third place in Belgium, but that was their only visit to the podium. A string of fifth places, a sixth in Germany and seventh in Italy show that 2007 was a steep learning curve. However, no-one who saw the team work through the night on two occasions in Malta can doubt their commitment. Expect Team Sunseeker to be stronger in 2008 as a result of the difficulties in 2007.