Series is "shop window for hull and engine makers"
The new set of Official Sporting and Technical Rules which will govern the Powerboat P1 World Championship from 2008 have been approved by the UIM General Assembly.
Commenting on behalf of Powerboat P1 Management, Managing Director Jim O’Toole said the Rules had been carefully designed around direct feedback from competing teams, manufacturers and experienced industry experts.
“This is the most significant range of P1 rule changes to date and will address many of the concerns that arose in 2007 relating to the policing of our regulations; clarity and consistency, safety and fair competition.”
The UIM Pleasure Navigation Commission commended Powerboat P1 on its organisation, promotion and the efforts it is making to encourage broader participation from the marine industry. There was also considerable praise for the professionalism and openness of the Championship and its ongoing commitment to create a major sporting and entertainment platform at each of its race weekends.
The rules drew further praise from the Chairmen of both Comintech and Cominsafe Commissions. The Comintech Chairman, Umberto Panzeri, stated that he thought the new rules took P1 to a higher level whilst the Cominsafe Chairman, Robert Wartinger, commented on the excellent and very clear rules relating to fuel, which he felt should be adopted throughout the UIM. The Chairman of the Formulae Commission, Ugur Isik, thought the dyno testing programme was an excellent approach in order to eliminate doubt in the determination of engine power.
The key points to emerge from the approved 2008 rules are ;
Evolution Class
– Full-canopy, prototype boats
– Minimum weight of 4,000kg
– Power-to-weight ratio of 1hp / 3.5kg, monitored and controlled by data-loggers
– High-technology shop window for hull and engine makers
– Rules encourage reliability and true endurance characteristics
– Close, high-speed racing with no speed limit
SuperSport Class
– Open-top, production boats
– Power-to-weight ratio of 1hp / 4.5kg, monitored and controlled by data-loggers
– Strictly controlled specifications
– Maximum speed of 85mph, in the interests of competitor safety
General
Pilot safety and fitness :
All pilots will be required to undergo a strict pre-season medical examination and further random medical checks will be carried out at all races
New fuel system safety rules :
To ensure maximum safety and significantly reduce the risks of fire or pollution
New method of defining engine power :
All teams will submit one engine for pre-season dynamometer testing at the promoter’s expense to establish a Designated Power Output, which replaces the previous system of Maximum Assumed Power. Once the DPO has been established on the dyno, each boat will be equipped with a data-logger. The data-loggers will monitor three factors; Revolutions per minute, fuel pressure/volume and turbo or supercharger boost. By continually monitoring these three factors, the scrutineers will be able to determine whether any team’s engines are exceeding their DPO, and thus the nominated power-to-weight ratio, ensuring a level playing field for the wide variety of boats taking part.
O’Toole concluded: “We are delighted with the outcome of the weekend and are very appreciative of the UIM’s ongoing support for P1 and its enthusiasm and encouragement for our forward thinking approach. We now have the mandate to present teams with a clear set of rules that they can sign up to with confidence. The new rules reflect the changing levels of technology and professionalism that are now a feature of P1 and provide much greater detail and clarity than ever before.”
