Though the Powerboat P1 World Championship has concluded its 2009 season, its racers, administrators and fans are still hungry for more racing action.

As previously reported, the 29th Key West SBI World Championships get underway today and Powerboat P1 will be represented by a number of familiar faces including Dan Cramphorn and Kim Collins in their #26 SW1 Capital SuperSport boat.

The #77 Lucas Oil Outerlimits team will split into two teams for Key West. Nigel Hook will pair up with Swede Michael Silfverberg to pilot Hook's Lucas Oil Skater in the Performance class whilst Joe Sgro and Outerlimits will compete in the Super Vee Unlimited class using and brand new SV 43.

Other P1 teams such as Chaudron Seagull Ukrainian Spirit had hoped to race in Key West, although the logistics or taking boats to the US following the final race in Sicily presented challenges. However, Siegfried Greve and Mark Nelson of the Evolution class SeaRex team will make the trip to Florida for a bit of research and well-earned relaxation.

Also visiting from Powerboat P1 management will be Commercial Director, Robert Wicks and Race Director, Jean Marie Van Lancker.  Both were in Key West last year and Wicks in particular is looking forward to visiting again: “Key West is an amazing venue and we’re keen to watch the international racing action at a place where so much offshore history has been made.”

Other international competitors in Key West will include two Class I race teams who will compete in the Superboat 750 and 850 classes.  Abdullah Al-Sulaiti will join Italian throttleman Matteo Nicolini in Qatar 95, who also throttled for the P1 Smash Poker team. In addition, Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani will team with veteran throttleman Steve Curtis of England in Qatar 96.  The eight-time World Champion Curtis has competed and consulted in Powerboat P1 and is also involved in the Formula F4SA series just acquired by Powerboat P1.