Dubai Grand Prix- Round 8
Dubai , United Arab Emirates - 18th October 2002

Victory Team
News 2002

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DUBAI GRAND PRIX SETS NEW DIRECTION FOR UIM CLASS 1 WORLD OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIP

Emirates Airline,  Dubai Duty Free-sponsored event creates new standards as world title race reaches climax at DIMC

The Dubai Grand Prix, sponsored by Emirates Airline and Dubai Duty Free, leads the UIM Class 1 World Offshore Powerboat Championship towards a new era this weekend as the 2002 series heads for a dramatic grand finale.

With Spirit of Norway on the verge of capturing the UIM Class 1 world title from the Victory Team, the eighth and final round of this year’s championship sees Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) at the heart of a drive to take the sport in a fresh direction over the next decade.

Class One management team (COM), the new driving force behind the sport, has linked up with DIMC and Streamline Marketing to give an extra dimension to the Dubai Grand Prix, and make it an event that can guide the sport to new levels of popularity with the public, and sponsors.

The roar of mighty Grand Prix engines tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon will signal the start of the final Pole Position race of the season, while the Grand Prix title decider 24 hours later will determine whether Steve Curtis and Bjorn Rune Gjelsten in Spirit of Norway can hold off the challenge of Victory 7 to clinch the world title.

Linking the two days of spectacular race action is “Lifestyles”, a two-day festival and showcase combining music, fashion and luxury lifestyle products and services. The  audience can enjoy a close-up view of the Grand Prix battle unfold just off the coastline, and on a giant screen at DIMC.

Saeed Hareb, Managing Director of Dubai International Marine Club, said at today’s official pre-event press conference: “We’re proud to have hosted the final round of the UIM Class 1 World Offshore Powerboat Championship since 1992. This year, the introduction of ‘Lifestyles’ is creating many new family attractions, and a new level of entertainment, and awareness, as part of our plans to build a bright new future for the sport, and generate more public interest in offshore racing.”

Ghaith Al Ghaith, Commercial Operations Director, Emirates Airline, said: “Emirates is very pleased to continue our association with the UIM Class 1 Offshore Powerboat Championship. Our support of this event goes back to the first race, and this year we are especially excited about the added attractions surrounding the event.

“Our commitment to supporting local sports events goes beyond sponsorship as we are dedicated to giving something back to the local community. With the surrounding activities at this year’s race, the people of Dubai will experience a fabulous weekend for the whole family.”

George Horan, General Manager, Dubai Duty Free, said: “This is Dubai Duty Free’s 11^th year to be associated with the UIM Class 1 World Offshore Powerboat Championship, and each year we have seen a new development or milestone for the event. This year, with the introduction of the “Lifestyles” concept, which is aimed at enhancing the social aspect of the two-day event, we are sure that the championship can only go from strength to strength.

Nick Webb, director of Streamline Marketing, event marketing managers for the Dubai Grand Prix, said: “We’re pleased to be working with Class One management team and Dubai International Marine Club in the development of this event, towards the overall goal of building a new image for the offshore powerboat racing. We believe it has tremendous potential for growth, both in the Middle East , and around the world.”

Craig Stoehr Managing Director of Class One management team, said: “Dubai International Marine Club have given the UIM Claiss 1 Offshore Powerboat Championship fantastic support over the years, and we’re enormously grateful to Saeed Hareb and his team, and also to Emirates and Dubai Duty Free, for their continued sponsorship of this event.

“This is a superb venue for the sport, and we also have to recognise that, in addition to staging the Dubai Grand Prix, DIMC are also providing the organisational expertise behind two other Middle East rounds of the world championship, in Fujairah and Qatar .”

While Spirit of Norway have already secured the Class 1 Pole Position title, which now enters its final round at 3.30pm tomorrow (Thursday), Steve Curtis and Bjorn Rune Gjelsten must finish in the top seven in Friday’s Dubai Grand Prix – also starting at 3.30pm - to make sure of the overall 2002 world championship.

Victory 7, driven by Ali Nasser and Ali Al Qama, must win on Friday to keep alive their faint world championship hopes, but their challenge will be over if Aussies Bill-Barry Cotter and Peter McGrath in Riviera repeat last weekend’s Grand Prix success in Qatar.

The new 7.6 nautical mile Dubai Grand Prix course, giving spectators a close-up view of more race action, is also one for the future. It will present a superb view of the race for residents on The Palm, the spectacular development taking shape in dramatic fashion off the Dubai coastline.

The start takes place in front of spectators at Mina Seyahi, with the boats roaring away towards the new entrance to Dubai Marina before going offshore, and then returning to within a few hundred metres of the beach opposite Le Royal Meridien Hotel. The finish, after one hour, 15 laps, and 106.7 nautical miles, will be in front of Dubai International Marine Club at 4.30pm on Friday.