And Zabo Makes Four—Domestic Class 1 Competition Shaping Up For 2022 Season

Though United Kingdom-based Powerboat P1 and its P1 Offshore race-production arm have not yet released a Class 1 series schedule for 2022, the organization reportedly has five teams committed to competing in the United States this year. The most recent of these is the Zabo team, which under prior owner Jan Zaborowski of Norway ran its 41-foot Victory catamaran—now powered by Mercury Racing 1100 Comp engines—in one race during the 2019 season.

Under new ownership, Zabo is one of four teams committed to competing on the United States-based Class 1 circuit this season. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

The Zabo team has been purchased by Cayman Islands residents Mario Rankin and Jason Butcher. They will alternate as drivers with veteran offshore racer Miles Jennings handling the throttles.

The news was announced today in a press release from the team. According to the release, Zaborowski “will still be connected with the team and together with a carefully selected crew secure the running and maintenance of the boat during the racing calendar.”

“We fully support the UIM/APBA Class 1 Series starting off in Cocoa Beach in May this year,” wrote Øivind “Simon” Dreier Sivertsen, the team’s manager, in the release. “Having been a regular contender in the Class 1 series for close to two decades, the team has been kept away from racing activities in the U.S.A .due to the pandemic and travel restrictions for the last two years.”

The Zabo team will be competing against 222 Offshore Australia, United States-based Lucas Oil/E3 and Sweden’s Huski Racing, which will field two boats in Class 1 this season. Even with the Middle East-based Victory and Abu Dhabi teams not committed to race this year, that means five Class 1 raceboats could be competing in any given regular-season race, as well as in the American Power Boat Association/Union International Motonautique World Championships produced by Race World Offshore, which are set November 6-13 in Key West, Fla.

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