P1: SuperSport class Italian GP summary

STORMS, ATTRITION IMPACT ITALIAN GRAND PRIX OF THE SEA

Outerlimits, Mercury and Italians Dominate Evolution Class Racing

Timing is everything, it is said, and that proved true in the second day of the Powerboat P1 World Championship Italian Grand Prix of the Sea at San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy. A points tie for the Grand Prix title between BAIA ATTOLINI Team #43 SEAGULL CHAUDRON, Saturday's race winner and #38 BAIA ATTOLINI, which took Sunday's checkered flag was decided by the fastest race times, and delivered the Grand Prix SuperSport title to BAIA ATTOLINI's Stefano Acanfora and Renato Guidi, in the Mercury-powered Donzi.

The Italians jumped to an early leading following the start, in which both Evolution and SuperSport classes started together along a wide line before having to cut in for a hard right turn onto the race course. It was a lead they held for the entire race.

The all-female team of Shelly Jory and Audrien Ciantar in the #44 IKO CASA, a Chaudron hull powered by Mercury Racing were hot on their heels followed by Britian's #26 SW1 CAPITAL. However, SW1 CAPITAL, which has been plagued by problems this season, saw gremlins once again end their race early, allowing IKO CASA's team boss, Angelo Tedeschi and Ciantar's brother Aaron in the Ilmor-powered #43 SEAGULL CHAUDRON move into third.

The race positions never changed, but the ladies were closing the gap on the leaders when rain began falling in lap eight of the 12 lap Endurance race. On the very next lap, IKO CASA came off plane and #17 MasForce, with Belgians Patrick Huybreghts, Marc Sluszny and Micha Robijn aboard moved their Mercury-power NorTech into third.

Then in the final two laps, another two-boat team was able to make a move as # 22 BIG SERGIO, driven by Alfredo Nuzzo and throttled by Alfredo Amato, were able to overtake MasForce, winning the Italians a place on the Sunday podium. However, MasForce's fourth place finish Sunday and fifth place finish on Saturday provided a points total moving them into third place overall for the Italian Grand Prix of the Sea.

The next round of racing will take place August 7-9 in another historic first as P1 racing takes place in Gothenburg, Sweden for the first time.

-credit: p1