For the first time in over two decades, catamarans and monohulls raced alongside each other in the UIM Class 1 and V1 World Powerboat Championships yesterday, with Dubai’s Victory Team going fastest in both Class 1 free practices and Karelpiu and Chaudron sharing the V1 honours off Playa D’en Bossa in the Mediterranean Grand Prix.
The Spanish island of Ibiza is playing host to the two championships this weekend, where defending and six-time Class 1 World Champion Arif Al Zaffain reignited his formidable partnership with Nadir Bin Hendi. The Victory duo clocking two minutes 51.29 seconds and two minutes 51.23 seconds in the two practices respectively.
Newstar-Poliform (3:05.01 and 3:01.16) went second fastest, with LFF10 (3.06.27) and LFF8 (3:01.27 best of the rest in third in practice one and two respectively.
Meanwhile, Team Abu Dhabi has retained the same line up that ended last year with a double podium at their home Grand Prix, with Faleh Al Mansoori and three-time race-winner Rashed Al Tayer in a new Randy Scism-designed and built MTI boat, switching from V12 to Mercury V8 power-plants.
Today’s third practice is followed by Race 1 at 15:30 (17:30 UAE), with a final morning practice session and qualifying for Race 2 at 15:15 (17:15 UAE) tomorrow.