New Huski Racing Team Tests Ahead Of Key West Worlds

Though offshore powerboat racing fans will have to wait until 2022 to see the 47-foot Victory catamaran that the Huski Chocolate/Huski Wear team purchased for Class 1 competition last month, they will get to enjoy the team’s 50-foot Victory cat in action during the Race World Offshore-produced American Power Boat Association/Union Internationale Motonautique World Championships next week in Key West, Fla. The 50-footer—which is owned by Huski team driver/sportscar racer Carlos de Quesada, falls under his Alegra Motorsports umbrella and is powered by twin 2,220-hp Kasse Racing engines—will compete in the Unlimited class ostensibly against Lucas Oil E3 and Team CRC.

The first test session of the 50-foot Huski team raceboat in Stuart, Fla., provided an opportunity for the team to run through the performance of basic systems. Photos by Cole McGowan copyright Huski Chocolate/Huski Wear.

To prepare for the Key West event, the team recently tested the cat during a calm-water session “with a focus on systems” reliability, according to a Huski press release, in Stuart, Fla. The team followed up that session with a rougher-water outing in Tampa Bay with buoys to simulate the Key West course.

Huski team throttleman Steve Curtis and Carlos de Quesada shared the cockpit during both test sessions.

Conditions were a bit more raw during the team’s Tampa test session.

“It feels great to be back in the cockpit and preparing for the debut of our new Huski team,” Curtis said. “We elected to take our time and complete the necessary updates we wanted to make on the primary boat before debuting it, so having the Alegra Motorsports boat has been very helpful in kickstarting our racing program for Huski.

“The boat ran great in both sessions—it was nice to have the rougher conditions in our second test to get a feel for Key West and it was good for Carlos to experience making turns similar to that of Mallory Square,” he continued. “I think we have a great package to come into Key West with and we’re all excited to make this debut for Huski in such a venue.”

(From left) The next stop for Carlos de Quesada, Steve Curtis and Gary Stray is Key West.

Huski crew chief Gary Stray was integral to both test sessions and was pleased with the results. Just a few details remain to be addressed before the new Huski team’s Key West debut, he said.

“There are only a few minor things to adjust on the boat—otherwise the boat is ready and we just have to get it outfitted in its new livery,” Stray explained. “We used the first test to assess the boat and ensure all of the components are operating properly after going through and refreshing everything. The second test had a greater focus on establishing a performance benchmark and to allow Steve and Carlos to communicate with each other in the boat at speed.”

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Enjoy more images from both Huski team test sessions in the slideshow above.

Adding his take, Carlos de Quesada—who comes to offshore racing with significant automobile racing experience; coincidentally, his son, Michael de Quesada, will compete this weekend in the IMSA Motul Petit Le Mans event—said he expects the on-water competition to be quite a contrast from sportscar racing.

“There are some similarities between these two styles of racing, but more differences,” he said. “It says a lot about the skill and commitment of the Alegra Team that we’re able to mobilize for two totally different events in different corners of the country. Regardless of how we fare, it’s sure to be an exciting weekend.”

New Huski Racing Team Tests Ahead Of Key West Worlds

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