Fremantle to stage world speed boat champs in 2007

Rev heads that love the powerful combination of high octane and sea salt will pleased to hear that a leg of the World Powerboat Championship will be staged off Fremantle's South Mole in 2007 after Perth events firm Exibit secured the local competition rights.

Exibit managing director Peter Versluis said the Class 1 UIM championship leg, where boats reach speeds of up to 270kph, will be staged in the southern hemsiphere for the first time.

The preferred course will sit within the V shape created by South Mole, the groyne bounding the Royal Perth Yacht Club annex and Bathers Beach.

International Powerboat Grand Prix Set For Fremantle One of the world's most high velocity Grand Prix events - the Class 1 U.I.M. World Powerboat Championship - is headed for Fremantle in 2007. Perth based events organiser Exibit has secured the exclusive rights for the Australian leg of the Championship - the first in the southern hemisphere. The Australian Class 1 Grand Prix is planned to run in April each year from 2007 to coincide with the Fremantle Boating Festival. Exibit Managing Director Peter Versluis said Class 1 powerboat racing was a multimillion-dollar sport that exploits cutting edge technology. "At over 40 feet long, with twin hull and twin 900hp engines, the Class 1 powerboats reach speeds of over 270kph and are often compared with F1 race cars or jet airplanes," he said. "Every lap of the course is unique with unpredictable troughs and swells compounding the danger for drivers and delivering thrills for spectators." "Fremantle is ideally suited to stage the Australian Class 1 Grand Prix with much of the infrastructure established for the 1987 America's Cup Yacht Race still operational." Mr Versluis said the signed agreement from the world marketing body for CLASS 1 would provide Exibit with exclusive rights and ample time to develop a business model and prove the commercial viability of the project. "At the same time the agreement protects us from any possibility of another state snatching the project from under our nose," he said. Fremantle Mayor Peter Tagliaferri said the event had major international appeal. "Together with the Fremantle Boating Festival, the World Powerboat Championship will create an iconic event for Fremantle and Western Australia," he said. Class 1 events are watched by global television audiences of almost 300 million and a substantial crowd of spectators are expected to visit Fremantle over the three day Grand Prix. Mr Versluis said similar to when Fremantle enjoyed major headlines as host to the America's Cup; the event would expose Fremantle and the State to the world. MORE
"The exciting aspect of this event is it has the potential to shine the spotlight on our port city not once, but year after year," he said. Representatives of the world powerboat authority will visit Fremantle in December following the Dubai Grand Prix to inspect the facilities and endorse the recommended Grand Prix course. The preferred course will sit within the V shape created by South Mole, the groyne bounding the Royal Perth Yacht Club annex and Bathers Beach.