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World P1 circus comes to Split |
It’s official – the press conference held by the P1 license owner Tomislav Blago Misetic, the mayor of Split Zeljko Kerum and the organizers of the Croatia Boat Show confirmed that the P1 circus would in 2010. come to Split. From April 16 to 18 the unique mix of sport, entertainment and glamour that is P1 will debut in Croatia – and stay there until at least 2012.
The championship is divided into two categories – Evolution and Super Sport – and each boat runs two races, piloted by two pilots. The boats are 13 m long, weigh 7 tons and have two engines with 1.800 HP combined – three times that of a Lamborghini sports car.
Asif Ragoonwala, the owner of the P1 Championship, says these races have evolved into a testing ground for breakthrough technologies of the nautical industry, a place where boats and engines are tested to the joy of fans. Ragoonwala stressed that P1 races flood their venues with money, and are especially profitable to hotels, restaurants and transporters. Seeing that the Split race will take place in April, it will probably mark the early start of the tourist season – thousands of spectators will watch the race from the Split promenade, while estimated 40 millions will watch the live TV coverage. The race will boost the town economy, so it is little wonder the circus is welcomed by both the Croatian Tourist Board and the Ministry of Tourism.
The Brac canal will see compete eighteen teams, but only one of them will be crowned the winner of the inaugural race of the Grand Prix Croatia of the Sea. Blago Misetic invites all adrenaline addicts and thrill chasers to invest in his team, giving the first Croatian team a chance to compete in the championship not only in Split, but in Yalta (Ukraine), Istanbul (Turkey), Cascais (Portugal), Stockholm (Sweden), Siracusa (Italy) and a seventh, so far un-named city.
Powerboat P1 is the nautical event of our time: crews of two speed at over 200 km/h, taming the powerful boats with all the skill and courage they can muster, braving the waves, the speed, the currents and the wind. Next season will be the seventh altogether and will see seven races in the waters of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Two million viewers will enjoy the show, many of them from boats 'traveling' with the circus, provided by the owners of P1. VIP salons will welcome the luckier among them, and live TV coverage provided the rush for additional 2 million fans.
Evolution class boats are closed-cockpit prototypes and Super Sport racers are open-cockpit standard models customized for the championship. The boats are built by some of the world's nautical legends like Donzi, Fountain, Cigarette, Sunseeker, Outerlimits, Ilmor, Mercury and Lamborghini. Every Grand Prix held at sea takes place near coast, with spectators free to enjoy from land and via TV. The Split race will take place in the waters of the downtown harbor, with pits placed directly by the Promenade, giving the fans a rare opportunity to see the speed monsters form up close. The show will include concerts and live DJ acts, pageants and promotions, and the visitors will get a chance to feel the speed themselves – in a racing simulator. Given that 600 people will be involved in organization of the race, that an additional 2.000 to 2.5000 thousand travels with the circus and that the Split race will coincide with the always popular Croatia Boat Show, the Brač canal race will be seen by as many as 100.000 fans.
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