Innovative New Racing Format Set to Thrill Fans This Season
A new format of racing brings close fought action to spectators with the advent of Powerboat P1's innovative new Match Racing initiative.
Introduced exclusively by Powerboat P1 for both its flagship SuperStock championship and supporting AquaX series, Match Racing is set to thrill crowds along the shoreline at races this year, starting with this weekend's Peters & May Jersey Grand Prix of the Sea.
For the first time race fans will be able to witness the action close to shore in a rapid-fire series of head-to-head races, whilst television audiences are guaranteed edge of their seat entertainment.
"Match Racing will bring our sport right to the forefront of providing entertainment for spectators, whilst giving competitors an innovative new way to race each other without altering the traditional form of mass start racing", commented P1 Chief Operating Officer Robert Wicks, the man behind the new ground breaking format.
Powerboat P1 is introducing Match Racing into the heart of its new racing weekend package and provide a spectacular two-day festival for each of the series' five venues.
Fans attending the Saturday of each event will see multiple rapid fire Match Races featuring two boats against each other right beside the shore line.
The two parallel courses will be short, fast and fun for competitors and fans.
Each boat will be faced with a lane containing three buoys in line but will race around them in a different order to keep the identity of the winner hidden until the dash for the line.
The team with the fastest time will qualify through to the next round whilst the loser will be eliminated.
Once the quarter-finals and semi-finals have been contested the two finalists compete for Match Race glory in an extended two-lap finale.
The winner will be awarded pole position in the first SuperStock endurance race on Sunday and pick up valuable championship points. All craft competing in the weekend's Grand Prix of the Sea event must take part in the Match Races, where championship points are also up for grabs.
On Sunday the SuperStock crews compete in two endurance races, where further championship points are awarded towards their championship score.
