Powerboat P1 Releases Six-Event Domestic Class 1 Series Schedule

With four teams committed to compete in six domestic events this season, Powerboat P1 has released its schedule for Union International Motonautique Class 1 competition. All but one of the competition venues—the mid-season Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind.—are in Florida.

The Sweden-based Huski team will field two Class 1 raceboats this season. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

The Class 1 season kicks off May 19-22 with Thunder On Cocoa Beach, followed by the Sarasota Powerboat Week Grand Prix July 1-3. From there it jogs north to Lake Michigan August 4-7 for the Michigan City contest. The action returns to the Sunshine State September 2-4 for the St. Petersburg Grand followed by the Clearwater Hooters Nationals—the final stop in the regular season series—September 30-October 2.

The Class 1 competitors will finish the year with the American Power Boat Association/Union Internationale Motonautique World Championships November 6-13 in Key West.

P1 Offshore, the offshore race-producing arm of Powerboat 1, is handling the Cocoa Beach, Sarasota and Clearwater races. The Offshore Powerboat Association will produce the Michigan City contest. Race World Offshore will produce Clearwater and Key West.

All three race-producing organizations are members of the American Power Boat Association.

“We often talk about returning Class 1 to the summit of powerboat racing where it belongs and I’m very much aware that this is not an easy climb,” said Azam Rangoonwala, the chief executive officer of Powerboat P1, in a press release from the organization. “We established a solid base-camp before the pandemic halted our progress and, as we head toward the new season with renewed optimism and energy, we are pleased to publish the six-venue race calendar together with our broadcast and digital plans.”

As previously reported on speedonthewater.com, Sweden’s Huski Chocolate team will field two boats against Norway’s Zabo, the United States-based Lucas Oil/E3 team and 222 Offshore Australia, each of which will have one raceboat in the Class 1 mix.

Powerboat P1 will carry each event live on its P1 Offshore Facebook page. The organization’s production team also will be capturing footage for post-event international television broadcasts. New from Powerboat P1 for the 2022 season will be a Class 1 website, dedicated social media channels for the class and a comprehensive guide to its teams.

Azam Rangoonwala’s efforts to revive Class 1 offshore racing are beginning to pay off. Photo by Coleman McGowan copyright Powerboat P1.

The Class 1 series has been three years in the making. International travel restrictions created by the pandemic all but destroyed the effort in 2020 and 2021. But buoyed by this season’s race-team commitments, Rangoonwala said that he and his team are feeling optimistic about the immediate and long-term future of the class.

“Our significant, far-reaching agreements with the UIM and APBA allow us to develop the World Championship commercially and promote the series both nationally and globally to deliver enhanced value for race teams, host venues, sponsors and partners,” he said in the release.

Powerboat P1 Releases Six-Event Domestic Class 1 Series Schedule

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