Turin, Italy, February 21, 2004. The world's Formula One Powerboat organisers, teams and media gathered today in the new 2006 Winter Olympic Games media centre in Turin, Italy to confirm the UIM F1 Powerboat Championships season line up for 2004.
Commencing March 5, all eyes will turn to Mumbai in India for the start of the season where 12 international teams will the race at Nariman Point in front of the legendary Oberoi Hotel. Race organisers are confidently expecting more than one million spectators who will be able to experience the speed and passion of Formula One Powerboat racing for the very first time.
Said F1 Powerboat organiser, Nicolo di San Germano, "I am delighted that the season will start in India, especially as this year we have added many more Asian locations to the race calendar. Throughout 2004 we will be bringing the UIM F1 Powerboat Championships to a mixture of spectacular city scapes as well as stunning tourist hot spots - it is in my opinion a very exciting variety of locations for both our drivers and viewers."
The race returns to Saudi Arabia's Sunset Beach on March 26 followed by the official opening of the European races in Portimao, Portugal, May 16 - a hugely popular tourist location with a dedicated watersports fan base. Italy will host two races; the first being The Mediterranean Grand Prix located in Cagliara, Sardinia on May 30 and the second at Lake Como, home of F1 Powerboat World Champion, Guido Cappellini, on June 20.
After a 4 week break in the schedule, the UIM F1 Powerboat Championship travels to Asia with a brand new race taking place on The Bund - the heart of China's vibrant city of Shanghai on August 1. Teams will barely have a moment to relax at the end of the Shanghai race as the racing entourage will be pack up and move to another exciting venue and a first for Seoul in South Korea on August 8th. No stranger to major international sporting events, the F1 Powerboat Championship in Seoul is being supported by the Korean Olympic Foundation.
Commented UIM F1 Powerboat President Ralf Froehling, "the 2004 calendar is the most international line up we have experienced to date. It certainly reinforces an exciting trend we are seeing in other motorsports - that an increased emphasis is being placed on Asian locations and I'm so pleased to see our sport being taken to these new countries and providing the chance for a brand new audience to enjoy the thrills of powerboat racing."
Malaysia plays host to its third F1 Powerboat Championship race on September 26 with the announcement of a new venue expected shortly. Singapore follows closely on Malaysia's heels on October 3, with the beautiful tropical island of Sentosa confirmed as the venue.
Teams will stay in Asia for two more exciting new races - the first in Hong Kong at Lake Tai Po, heralded as a natural water stadium, October 17th, followed by a race on the shores of the stunning island of Bali in Indonesia on October 31st.
One further slot remains open in November before the 2004 UIM F1 Powerboat racing season is completed in Sharjah in December. Event organisers from the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority are already preparing to showcase the many wonderful highlights of their country during the closing ceremony.
During the announcements today, F1 race organiser Nicolo di San Germano, Sports Minister of Turin, Mr Montabone and UIM F1 Powerboat President, Ralf Froehling acknowledged the invaluable support of the official sponsors and suppliers of the UIM F1 Powerboat Championships. Special presentations were made to Portugal, Sharjah and Malaysia for their excellent contribution to the growth of the sport and organisation of the events in their countries.
A Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to the Deputy Mayor of Portimao, Portugal Isilda Gomes.
Accepting the Certificate of Excellence for Sharjah was Mohammed Al Noman, from the Sharjah Commerce & Development Authority.
The Certificate for the Highest Level of Excellence for the 2001, 2002 and 2003 UIM F1 Powerboat Grand Prix in Malaysia was presented to His Royal Highness Tengku Sulaiman Aziz Shah, the Malaysian Ambassador to Rome, Dato' Lily Zazhariah, and Managing Director of Event Organiser H2O Sports Sdn Bhd, Dato' Yahya a Jalil.
Meanwhile the F1 Powerboat teams and organisers are gearing up for the first race of the 2004 season in Mumbai, India on March 7 - less than one month away!
