P1 Offshore Continues Race Promo Roll With Second St. Pete Event

ByMatt Trulio

With the offshore powerboat racing season opening in a little more than a month, P1 Offshore produced yet another promotional event—the first happened in January—in St. Petersburg, Fla., this week. But where the first event focused on the current connection between the offshore racing and extreme motorsports worlds, yesterday’s happening was all about the United Kingdom-based group combining offshore powerboat racing and personal watercraft competition during its Labor Day event in the Southwest Florida city.

On Labor Day weekend, the offshore powerboat and personal watercraft racing worlds will align in St. Petersburg, Fla. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

Dubbed the St. Pete Powerboat Grand Prix, the aquatic motorsports potpourri is slated for September 3-5.

“We began discussions for a national race event featuring a double bill of P1 powerboat racing and AquaX jet ski action in 2015, with plans to stage the two-day event near the iconic St. Pete Pier,” said Azam Rangoonwala, the chief executive officer of P1, in a press release from the organization. “AquaX includes both professional and amateur classes of racing, which attracts riders from across the country. September’s event is part of the eight-venue APBA national race series which runs from May to October.”

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater is the presenting sponsor of the event, according to the release. The offshore powerboat fleet will include a raceboat dressed in custom Visit. St.Pete/Clearwater graphics. A personal watercraft ridden by competitor Tory Snyder is decked out in matching livery.

“We are thrilled to bring P1 Offshore and P1 AquaX racing to the St. Pete Pier for the Labor Day weekend,” said Tim Ramsberger, the chief of operating officer of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, in the release. “We’re extremely pleased with the partnership with Powerboat P1 over the past several years and look forward to building the St. Pete race weekend as a signature event for community.:

Both days of competition will be carried live on the P1 Offshore Facebook Page and broadcast nationally on the CBS Sports Network and Bally Sports Regional Networks.

Related stories
Travis Pastrana P1 Offshore Invitational Attracts Motorsports Icons
Powerboat P1 Planning Six-Race Class 1 Season For 2021