The city of Yalta will make its first-ever appearance on the Powerboat P1 race calendar in 2010, after senior officials of the National Ukrainian Powerboat Federation and Powerboat P1 Management Ltd concluded an agreement earlier this week.
Following initial conversations between the organisations in July 2008 and ongoing discussions during the 2009 season, the inaugural Ukrainian Grand Prix of the Sea will take place on May 7-9, 2010.
Yalta will host the second-leg of next year’s championship after the season-opener in Split, Croatia, on April 16-18.
Ukraine last held an official world championship powerboating race in 1986, and president of the National Ukrainian Powerboat Federation, Viktor Shemchuk, is extremely excited about bringing the sport back to the country. He said: “It is a great honour for us. Ukrainian powerboating dates back over one hundred years, so naturally we can’t wait for May to arrive.
“Yalta is the pearl of the Ukraine and our most popular tourist destination. The Prime Yalta Rally in 2009 was a great success and we’re aiming to make the 2010 Ukrainian Grand Prix of the Sea, the most significant sporting event in Ukrainian history.”
Powerboat P1 Chairman & CEO, Asif Rangoonwala, is thrilled with the National Ukrainian Powerboat Federation’s vision for Powerboat P1. He said: “Hosting our first event in Ukraine attests to our determination and commitment to extend the series’ footprint into new and exciting territories. “
Famous for hosting the post-war conference between President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and General Secretary Joseph Stalin in 1945, Yalta is a city in Crimea, on the north coast of the Black Sea.
“Racing on the Black Sea, with a fresh captive audience, represents a fantastic opportunity for increasing the world championship’s global reach,” said Rangoonwala.
“The Ukrainians wholeheartedly embraced the championship in 2009 and currently boast the reigning SuperSport Class champions, Ukrainian Sprit.
“I believe they will surpass their high levels of success and support in 2009 by staging one of Powerboat P1’s biggest events in 2010.”
Over one hundred passionate Ukrainian Spirit supporters assembled in Malta and Sicily to cheer their heroes onto victory in 2009. Shemchuk said: “Racing in front of our home audience will bring the entire Ukrainian community together. By attracting investors, extending the tourist season and most excitingly, the prospect of live television coverage, we will generate suitable inward economic investment and raise the profile of Yalta as a popular tourism destination.”