Britons show Italians how it's done
Briton’s James Sheppard and Craig Wilson dominated the Italian Grand Prix of the Sea over the weekend winning both Saturday and Sunday rounds in a hard fought contest featuring spectacular action and a determined challenge from Wettpunkt.com and the-American Outerlimits Powerboats team. Always in contention, the Austrian Wettpunkt crew, led by Hannes Bohinc, looked capable of spoiling the party but despite moving within ten seconds of the Fountain-backed King of Shaves, did not appear to have quite enough power to bridge the gap.
With crowds lining the sun-drenched Naples shoreline, the diesel powered Kiton, piloted by Giuseppe Salvatori, Luciano Capuano and Maurizio di Stasio, led the fleet at the start of Sunday’s second round, putting several boat lengths between themselves and the chasing pack. However, the early sign of pace was short-lived as the Ilmor-powered Fountain and the Isotta Fraschini’s of Wettpunkt took command.
As the two front-runners pulled away, holding station until the chequered flag, it was the nail-biting port-to-starboard battle between the Metamarine-built boats ofFainplast and Kiton that captivated the crowds. When, on lap three Kiton slowed, Fainplast moved into third with Outerlimits fourth. A mechanical problem later forced Fainplast to retire opening the way for the American’s to take the final podium position. A third place was an exceptional performance from the American Lucas Oil Outerlimits crew of Joe Sgro and Nigel Hook, who had been forced to add additional weight to the boat and then, as the race began, suffered a drenching at the hands of Wettpunkt.com.
The local favourites, OSG, made a miraculous ‘last-minute’ appearance after Saturday’s spectacular sinking. Working throughout the night and morning to repair the boat, it eventually took the start one lap down. Its courageous crew, Giancarlo Cangiano and Giovanni Carpitella, tried their best but were unable to make their mark in a race dominated on both days by King of Shaves, Wettpunkt.com and Outerlimits.
2007 Powerboat P1 World Championship
Italian Grand Prix of the Sea – Results
Evolution Class – Round Three
1. – 99 – King of Shaves – GB – 200pts
2. – 81 – Wettpunkt.com – Aust – 160pts
3. – 97 – Lucas Oil Outerlimits – USA – 120pts
4. – 90 – Kiton – It – 50
5. – 75 – SIF – It – 40 [Wild Card]
6. – 67 – The Switch – Fra – 30 [Wild Card]
7. – 88 – OSG Racing – It – 20pts
8. – 64 – Fainplast – It – 10
Evolution Class – Round Four
1. – 99 – King of Shaves – GB – 100pts
2. – 81 – Wettpunkt.com – Aust – 80pts
3. – 97 – Lucas Oil Outerlimits – USA – 60
4. – 90 – Kiton – It – 50pts
5. – 75 – SIF – It – 40 [Wild Card]
6. – 67 – The Switch – Fra – 30 [Wild Card]
7. – 88 – OSG Racing – It – 20
8. – 64 – Fainplast – It – 10
