The history of the dispute with WPPA has been issued by the UIM.
In view of all misleading publications circulated and the numerous requests by the media, the following statement covering the history of the dispute has been issued by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM).
In November 2006 at the Kuala Lumpur UIM General Assembly, the UIM Council unanimously decided that following points were found non-negotiable within the proposal of World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA) :
1. The name WPPA is refused and their proposed Class I commercial management group will not include any UIM Nominee
2. UIM will maintain – as world governing body – the rule making and the adjudication for all UIM racing disciplines.
3. The UIM will maintain its existing rights on the granting of the titles and the overall coordination of the calendar
4. Training and nomination of required officials will continue to be handled by UIM and according to the contracts.
5. The financial contractual conditions remain in place and must be adhered to.
6. The existing UIM Class 1 Committee will remain in the current composition/function to deal with the related necessities.
December 2006
The Class I Promoter responded that the Class I will be conducted under the WPPA with regard to the above six points.
The UIM informs all its National Authorities and cancels its contract with the Class I Promoter.
At the UIM Council meeting held on February 11, 2007, the following decisions were agreed.In order to stop the allegations that UIM is closing the doors to a mutual understanding the Council agrees to :
1. Set up a Working Group to negotiate with WPPA for a possible solution, bearing in mind the UIM wishes to maintain the six points established by the Council in Kuala Lumpur
2. Continue the study of an alternative to Class I. In view of misleading publications already circulated and the numerous requests by the media, the UIM makes the following statement.
In November 2006 at the Kuala Lumpur General Assembly of the UIM, the UIM Council unanimously decided that following points were found non-negotiable within the proposal of WPPA :
1. The name WPPA is refused and their proposed Class I commercial management group will not include any UIM Nominee
2. UIM will maintain – as world governing body – the rule making and the adjudication for all UIM racing disciplines.
3. The UIM will maintain its existing rights on the granting of the titles and the overall coordination of the calendar
4. Training and nomination of required officials will continue to be handled by UIM and according to the contracts.
5. The financial contractual conditions remain in place and must be adhered to.
6. The existing UIM Class 1 Committee will remain in the current composition/function to deal with the related necessities.
December 2006
The Class I Promoter responded that the Class I will be conducted under the WPPA with regard to the above six points.
The UIM informs all its National Authorities and cancels its contract with the Class I Promoter.
February 11 – UIM Council meeting
In order to stop the allegations that UIM is closing the doors to the WPPA to come to a mutually agreeable conclusion, the Council agrees to:
1. Set up a Working Group to negotiate with WPPA for a possible solution, bearing in mind that the UIM wishes to maintain the six points established by the Council in Kuala Lumpur
2. Continue the study of an alternative Class I
February 26 – Report by the Working group
A proposed cooperation outlined by the Joint Working Group is circulated to Council with the request to respond by March 9, 2007
March 2
The UIM President asks the Council members to refrain from voting on this matter at this time and to stop circulating any further statements. He informs that the Executive Committee will study the proposed agreement and revert to Council.
March 12
The UIM President informs Council members that Executive Committee has further studied and discussed the Dubai proposal and has decided that the negotiations with WPPA have failed and must therefore be stopped to enable the UIM to continue to restructure the UIM Class 1 and to protect the future and the integrity of the UIM and its’ National Authorities.
Council members who are contrary to the decision of Executive Committee are asked to react by March 16. There were ten (55.6 %) out of the eighteen Council members who disagreed with the proposal to stop further negotiations.
March 20
The UIM President informs the Council that the UIM Working Group is authorized to continue its discussions with the WPPA to create a final, legally correct, agreement (bearing in mind the 6 points listed above) for approval by the UIM Council. Because the majority in favour of continuing the discussions is very small, the Working Group is enlarged with F. Hauenstein and Kimon Papachristopoulos to represent other opinions.
R. Chiulli remains the Chairman of this Working Group.
WPPA and IOTA Chairmen confirm in writing on the same day that the 2007 Class 1 Season will run under the aegis of the WPPA only and asks the UIM National Authorities to give the WPPA every support. They confirm this with press communications released the same day.
It is not completely clear from the WPPA-IOTA letter whether there is any room for further discussions or whether the issue is closed. The UIM Working group must decide whether or not there is any real possibility for a meaningful reunion that fully recognizes UIM’s position. If that is the case, then further discussion with WPPA-IOTA may be worthwhile. If not, then UIM must establish a replacement class for Class 1 in 2007 and proceed with obtaining sponsorship for a championship circuit.
In the meantime the UIM President will address the matter to the UIM National Authorities.
