#57 Centaurian Yachts crew members Pierre Colpin and Frank Hemelaer have formed a new Belgian-based Evolution-class team to contest the 2009 Powerboat P1 championship. The pair finished eighth in the Evolution title chase in 2008 alongside Nico Huybens in the Mercury-powered Outerlimits SV40 hull.

Colpin and Hemelaer have already secured a Fountain 42 hull, similar to the one used by the double Evolution title-winning #99 1st4boats.com Fountain Worldwide team, but will be using Mercury engines rather than Ilmor power as they start their first season in the boat this year.
 
The team are currently planning to contest selected events, but are confident they can step up to a full title campaign if they can attract a title sponsors.

“It was only yesterday that we decided to join the Powerboat P1 season, so everything is just starting to come together,” Colpin said. “It’s too early yet to define in which races we’ll actually compete. Two are already scheduled. To participate in every race in the season, we still need to attract a main sponsor.

“We want to focus on Powerboat P1, but we also thing we’ll head to the European Championship or the Italian Powerboat series. We’re also looking to attend the Belgian Offshore Challenge in Zeebrugge in September. Our main focus is on 2010 when we will race in every Grand Prix of the Sea. We see 2009 as a prep year to extend our experience and level of competence.”