51st UIM Class 1 2014 season set to be the best yet

This season sees Class 1 lining up for its 51st year since being sanctioned by the sports’ World Governing Body, the Union Internationale Motonautique (U.I.M.) in 1964, with the exciting prospect of new venues, an increasing number of race boats with the addition of the Evolution class joining the tour and increasingly closer competition amongst its leading protagonists. World Sports Boats is pleased to announce race coverage of this top flight racing series as the 2014 season gets underway.

2013 saw the emergence of Terracina in Italy as a sparkling new jewel in the Class 1 crown and the on-going strategy of bringing in new and exciting venues by promoter H2O Racing is set to continue this year with the inclusion on the calendar of Bulgaria, the Spanish Island of Ibiza and a second event in Italy in Siracusa.

Nicolò di San Germano, who took over the Class 1 helm in 2011 was open and frank with his assessment of the commercial situation and highlighted the fact that the powerbase of the sport should include Europe. “The events market is becoming increasingly more and more competitive, but as has been shown by the successes of recent events in China and Italy, Class 1 is still regarded as a premium lifestyle and sporting must-have brand to mirror its cousins in Formula 1 and Moto GP.

Realistically we offer added value in terms of spend versus a viable commercial return for our investors,” he said. “I firmly believe that the future is positive and that the right strategic approach is to place Europe centre stage at the heart of the Championship, as well as returning to the original format of the sport when catamarans and mono-hulls were competing at the same events. And I thank the UIM for accepting this proposal to establish a V class World Championship based on the existing Evo rules.

“A reinvigorated European strength is vital for our sport and would complement our long-standing and valued association with the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) whose efforts have resulted in the emergence of Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, as the undisputed powerbroker and primary hub of Middle East water sports, and the only venue in the GCC to support and host the World’s leading Championships, F1H2O, Class 1, Aquabike and the Nations Cup World series.”.

“We will continue to offer our full support and commitment to the Middle East and Europe as well as continuing to develop the countless opportunities in China and South America.”

The World Sports Boats team are looking forward to a new year of Class 1 racing and supporting the series with live coverage as the season kicks off. Class 1 fan views at the ILBC