Tuesday, 18 October 2011 13:51
In a speech made at the 84th UIM General Assembly, P1’s Chief Operating Officer, Robert Wicks, has called for an end to 'chequebook racing' – arguing for more sustainable, affordable race series instead.
Having presented highlights of the new 2011 SuperStock championships to the assembly, Robert highlighted the fact that ‘parity’, ‘affordability’ and ‘accessibility’ for competitors are the cornerstones of the SuperStock series, arguing that such principles were vital if powerboat racing is to successfully appeal to new markets.
“It is imperative in the current economic climate the sport moves away from the ‘chequebook racing’ we have seen in so many classes down the years. It is simply not possible to sustain the current costs of racing in many series and motorsport in general is suffering. An affordable race series which has its roots at national level but is also international in scope is the key to unlocking value at all levels in the sport,” said Wicks.
Powerboat P1 launched the SuperStock series in 2010 and is rolling out plans to introduce the series in several new markets in 2012 and beyond. “We are building a series from the ground up with real credibility in conjunction with the national federations represented here this week. This will in turn increase interest and awareness, build new audiences and attract new commercial partners to the sport,” added Wicks.
The Assembly continues until Sunday 23 October.