Six litre Class III cats aimed to swell future Class I fixtures
As Italy enjoys the focus of attention in World Powerboat Racing circles, hosting the UIM Class 3, 6 litre World Championship in Nettuno last week and preparing for the Italian Grand Prix in Stresa, the fourth round four of the Class 1 Offshore World Championship on October 2-4, UIM President Raffaele Chiulli (pictured left) took the opportunity to reiterate his complete trust in the work being undertaken by Saeed Hareb (pictured right) and the World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA) for the development of powerboat racing activities.
Chiulli and Hareb, President of the WPPA, met in Nettuno to cement the ongoing relationship between the sport’s World Governing Body and the WPPA. Both Presidents agreed to continue and strengthen the relationship between the two entities for the management of the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship.
During the meeting, discussions also took place on the subject of the recognition of the X-CAT Championship, seen by many as a key asset in the future plans of Class 1 as a preparatory category, which will also bring added value to events on the Class 1 circuit.
Teams who participated in the Class 3, 6 litre World Championship in Nettuno were invited to participate in the X-CAT Invitation Challenge, which will take place in Stresa during the weekend of the Class 1 Italian Grand Prix. They accepted unanimously.
“The event in Stresa will give us the opportunity to evaluate the integration of the Class 3, 6 litre series into Class 1 events,” said WPPA Race Director and X-Cat coordinator, Rory Power. “This is very important, as it will enable us to check the validity of the project, which is something we have been discussing with Class 1 for some time now. The idea of running the X-CAT series alongside that of Class 1 has the aim of enriching the events with a class which we consider particularly spectacular and which definitely represents the best stepping stone for entering Class 1.”
Nine Teams will line up in Stresa for the X-CAT Invitation Challenge; official practice will take place on Friday, 2 October at 16.30hrs, with race 1 and race 2 on Saturday and Sunday at 13.30hrs.
X-CAT INVITATION CHALLENGE – TEAMS
3 Fazza – tbc (UAE)
8 Siempre Adelante Bacchi Spa – Lorenzo Bacchi / Saul Bubacco (ITA)
10 La Vida Loca – Giovanni Carpitella / Christian Rivolta (ITA)
14 Kingfisher – Ian Blacker / Gavin Parsonage (GBR)
20 Ina Assitalia – Serafino Barlesi / Alessandro Barone (ITA)
23 Di Cesare Riscaldamenti – Giampiero Soave / Christopher Becker (ITA)
24 Carpisa-Yamamay – Diego Testa / Ettore Testa (ITA)
25 Team Jambo – Mauro Cucurnia / Alessandro Duval (ITA)
69 Spirit of Corsica – Francois Pinelli / Thierry Rosselini (FRA)
