Qatar back in Class 1

[Team Tsunami]

We have a new entry being finished up as we speak!

[1waterboy1]

We have a new entry being finished up as we speak!

Do you mean Class 1 in OPA?

[600sci]

Because racers have huge ego's and create the issues. They build boat for classes that dont exist,and they try and put their boats in classes they dont belong . Everyone bitches about not enough boats in a class, and when u combine classes and put boats where they belong,then that doesnt work because they all cant win the same race.

You can point fingers at the Org. all you want but it is the racers, they dont want to just be racers. They want to try and dictate to the Org. what they want when they want it and how they want it. They bitch about the
rules,purse,TV,starts,inspection,cranes,medical, and even the location they get in the pit. Years ago when racers where racers it was a lot more fun and much better racing all around.

Hope that helps to anwser your question...

Sir, i don't know who you are. But is 100% how i see it as an outsider!

[Wazzup Racing]

No, Why would they? When you own your own country loosing is not a option. I have no idea who was the brain child behind getting them to bring there boats to the US and letting them race against the 850/750 boats. Anyone with a pulse would know the boats were no where equal to the 750/850 teams. More HP,RPM and the boats length and tunnel width. What were the powers to be thinking? Oh I know, do what ever it takes to get more big boats but lets not tell anyone they have to fit in one of the existing classes where there is compatition. We will just make another class for them. Give them the lions share of TV time and try and fool the fans into believeing it was close racing. Pathetic at best! Now go ahead and shoot me
MD

BANG.......I would be one of those powers to be. Randy, I agree.

[XtremeRacing]

RULES MUST BE IMPLEMENTED AND ENFORCED
Thursday, 6 August: Spirit of Qatar Team Principal, HE Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani is not ruling out a return to racing, but insists that the rules must be implemented and enforced. "The decision for pulling the team out of the 2009 Championship was not based on the bad start on Sunday, 19 July in the Norwegian Grand Prix. The decision was made because of the very consistency of that team in breaking the rules and not respecting the comments made during the drivers briefing," said Sheikh Hassan. "It was made clear to all drivers that aerial footage as well as onboard camera footage from the start boat would be available to govern the start.

"Disregarding all of these comments, and looking at their past history, it has always been the same, as the judges had closed their eyes to what happened, and waiting for a protest from a team to look at it.

"All of this is documented from 2006 onwards. Victory Team had been messing with the start and nothing has been made about it. The Judges had only penalised Qatar team on the spot in Spain, and forced the team to do the long lap, but I don't know why the judges can not do the same with Victory Team.

"The only reason for the team to pull out is because the WPPA has not been implementing the rules, and we will only come back if the rules are being implemented and enforced."




WPPAUIMIOTAABRAFIAFOTASBIAPBAOSSOPALLCUSACCARTIMSAACONASCAR = SNAFU

pat W

Some things never change ....

[Team Tsunami]

Do you mean Class 1 in OPA?

No the real Class 1 over in the Middle East and Europe. From what I've heard they have 13 confirmed boats for this season.

[XtremeRacing]

No the real Class 1 over in the Middle East and Europe. From what I've heard they have 13 confirmed boats for this season.

Last I heard it was 7, but I hope you are right. I bigger boat count might help this yr. It hard to put on a show with 7-10 boats.

[Donskihp]

Class 1 web site shows 10 teams for 2011 so far

[XtremeRacing]

Great start ....

[Pete B]

Class 1 web site shows 10 teams for 2011 so far

10 boats in one class!!!

[Team Tsunami]

Class 1 web site shows 10 teams for 2011 so far

The site actually shows 11 boats and there may be a few stragglers here and there. Its going to be a great year. I believe they have 4 race sites set in stone and working on more.

[Donskihp]

Good point the site showed 10 teams not 10 boats.

[XtremeRacing]

Time will tell it always does, it all sounds good on paper. We have all been there and done that before. If the boat count is therer and they have enough sites to make it a true series , and the big thing is to enforce the rules for 2011 then its a good start.

[600sci]

I think its not hard to have 10 boats in 1 class, if there is only 1 class to go racing in? Also these teams have LOTS $$$$, if you would give any racer here that money they could all go and buy the same big boat aswell!

[Pete B]

I think its not hard to have 10 boats in 1 class, if there is only 1 class to go racing in? Also these teams have LOTS $$$$, if you would give any racer here that money they could all go and buy the same big boat aswell!

and if they dont win they build something bigger, and make a new class for them. whuich is the point to this whole thread. A Class 1 event is much like a Formula 1 Event, it Is NOT, a poor man's sport.

[Cookee]

It's 11 boats - hope you don't mind the copy and paste - this is a press release from the UIM


CLASS 1 ANNOUNCES CALENDAR AND ELEVEN BOAT LINE-UP AS MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPEAN TEAMS PREPARE TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD FOR 2011 TITLE HONOURS

Saturday, 26 February, MONACO: The UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship will field one its strongest line-ups in recent years, with promoter Nicolò di San Germano confirming an eleven boat entry for the 2011 season-opener in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, 14-16 April.

Announcing the news at today's press conference in Monaco, San Germano also revealed the dates for ten races at five Grand Prix, with Norway, Italy, Brazil and Abu Dhabi joining Dubai as the season venues, with the possibility of a sixth event to be announced in the coming weeks.

It promises to be a closely-contested and intriguing season as old rivalries are renewed, as well as a titanic fight for supremacy in what is being billed as a Middle East versus Europe showdown, as teams prepare to ! go head-to-head for title honours.

Defending World, European and Middle East Champions Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi - the dominant drivers in Class 1 over the last four years - will steer Victory Team's single boat attack.

The triple World Champions took nine wins from 12 starts last season and know that they will face stiffer opposition in 2011, not just from neighbours Team Abu Dhabi and Middle East rivals Spirit of Qatar, but the seven teams from Europe - all intent on breaking the stranglehold that Victory Team has held over the championship since 2007.

After an impressive debut season for Team Abu Dhabi and Class 1 rookie Rashed Al Tayer, taking three wins and one podium finish, Al Tayer is retained in the driver's seat, with the team still to announce who will take the throttles alongside him.

Spirit of Qatar's recently announced return to racing renews their great rivalry with the Victory Team. Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al! -Thani and English throttleman Steve Curtis lead the team's two-boat assault on the championship in Qatar 96, with Class 1 debutant Ali Al Neama teaming-up with the experienced Italian, Matteo Nicolini in Qatar 95.

Leading the line for European team success will be 2010 Edox Pole Position Champions Kolbjorn Selmer and Jorn Tanberg, the all-Norwegian pairing maintaining their partnership in Welmax for a third season, whilst fellow Norwegian outfit Zabo Racing look likely to maintain their 2010 pairing, with Paul Gaiser alongside throttleman Christian Zaborowski in Relekta.

Italy rolls out four teams and three all-Italian pairings in 2011: Fendi Racing will make its championship debut with owner-driver Luca Formilli Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella continuing a promising Class 1 partnership that began in Abu Dhabi last season with a podium, running an Outerlimits boat and engine package.

GiorgiOffshore has confirmed that throttleman Nicola Giorgi, ! who lines up for his 75th Grand Prix in Dubai, will partner Tomaso Polli who he first raced with in 2002, with Guido Cappellini resuming his partnership with Giampaolo Montaovoci, the pair teaming-up last year for fives races and grabbing two podium finishes.

Both Team D'Alessio-SCAM and Chris Parsonage Racing, the sole English entry, have confirmed their participation but are still to reveal their driver line-ups.


TEAMS 2011 - summary
Team: VICTORY TEAM (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Boat: #3 Victory
Pilots: Arif Saif Al Zafeen (D) UAE
Nadir Bin Hendi (T) UAE

Team: TEAM ABU DHABI (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
Boat: #5 Abu Dhabi
Pilots: Rashed Al Tayer (D) UAE
tbc (T)

Team: FENDI RACING (Italy)
Boat: #10 Fendi Racing
Pilots: Luca Formilli Fendi (D) ITA
Giovanni Carpitella (T) ITA

Team: GIORGIOFFSHORE (Italy)
Boat: #18 GiorgiOffshore
Pilots: Tomaso Polli (! D) ITA
Nicola Giorgi (T) ITA

Team: CHRIS PARSONAGE RACING (England)
Boat: #50
Pilots: tbc (D)
tbc (T)

Team: TBC (Italy)
Boat: #74
Pilots: Guido Cappellini (D) ITA
Giampaolo Montavoci (T) ITA

Team: WELMAX OFFSHORE RACING (Norway)
Boat: #90 Welmax
Pilots: Kolbjorn Selmer (D) NOR
Jorn Tandberg (T) NOR

Team: ZABO RACING (Norway)
Boat: #91 Relekta
Pilots: Paul Gaiser (D) BRA
Christian Zaborowski (T) NOR

Team: SPIRIT OF QATAR (Qatar)
Boat: #95 Qatar
Pilots Ali Al Neama (D) QAT
Matteo Nicolini (T) ITA

Boat: #96 Qatar
Pilots: Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani (D) QAT
Steve Curtis (T) ENG

Team: D'ALESSIO-SCAM (Italy)
Boat: #
Pilots: tbc (D)
tbc (T)


2011 CALENDAR
15/16 April - Dubai, UAE
?/? June - TBA
16/17 July - Arendal, Norway
24/25 September - Stresa, Italy
22/23! October - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (tbc)
1/2 December - Abu Dhabi, UAE

[Wahoo 214]

This is from today's World of PowerBoats

Chris Parsonage empire owes £1 million
First it was Richard Carr’s development company going bust and now it looks like Plymouth based Chris Parsonage is up to his neck with financial problems as it’s reported his company owes in excess of £1 million. The recession has affected builders and developers throughout the UK and Parsonage, who built up a multi-million pound empire after starting off life as a builders labourer is no exception.

We understand he still owns his Class 1 outfit ‘Negotiator’ and this might have to be sold to help towards paying off the debts.

It was Chris who played a major part in bringing a round of the World Class 1 championships to Plymouth and the events attracted huge crowds but lack of sponsorship resulted in Chris footing most of the costs.

However, unlike Carr, who was made personally bankrupt, it’s Parsonage’s company Gervas Property that owes the money and he has entered into a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) with creditors in the hope of staving off a winding up order or going into administration."

Looks like the ecomony is taking its toll even in C1

[Cookee]

This is from today's World of PowerBoats

Chris Parsonage empire owes £1 million

I think you'll find that was last summers news! He was renting the boat out and it was raced by Giovanni Carpitalla and someone else at the end of last season.

In fact I couldn't find it on World of Powerboats at all - do you have a link?