Nigel Hook Powerboat P1 2008 Italian Grand Prix of the Sea

From San Diego, USA to San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy Nigel Hook, Captain of the Mercury Racing powered 77 LUCAS OIL led his team to victory!

With the first ever P1 Evolution woman driver, Shelley Jory, at the helm of the 77 LUCAS OIL seizing her first Grand Prix win on her first entry, history was in the making.

Saturday, May 10, 2008 - The P1 Evolution race boats raced to an innovative new start procedure for the 100-mile Endurance Race. The race boats were led out in a staggered grid behind the pace boat similar to Formula One. All Evolution race boats followed the pace boat in turning 90 degrees and pointed to towards the first turn.
"Green, Green, Green" broadcast over all radios. The race was on!

Both Mercury Racing powered boats, the 10 Cigarette and 77 LUCAS OIL Skater, arrived at the first turn buoy side-by-side. The Cigarette, driven by Luca Fendi was benefited by rounding the right-hand corners, but the 77 LUCAS OIL snatched the lead on the first left-hand corner and from that point commanded the lead until the last lap, taking second behind the 99 Fountain WorldWide driven by reigning World Champions Craig Wilson and James Sheppard.

Sunday, May 11, 2008 - 1600 hours commenced the 80-mile Sprint Race for the P1 Evolution class. With Nigel Hook quick on the throttles of the Mercury Racing powered 77 LUCAS OIL Skater, he gave the boat another first into the first turn buoy with blistering acceleration. Hot off the port transom was 66 Cranefields Wine and in a tactical move, Hook and Jory pulled back momentarily to let 66 enter the turn first. A fortuitous move as the 66 spun out wildly. Veering away (which at over 100mph covers a lot of ocean) to avoid the accident, the 77 was pulled way off course effectively allowing the next six race boats to get by dropping Hook and Jory back to seventh position. But not for long, one-by-one the Mercury Racing powered 77 LUCAS OIL Skater earned its way back to third place just passing its fellow Skater powered by Ilmor 53 Pignolo on the final straightaway. The 53 Pignolo Skater was driven by Max Ferrari, of no relation to the race car company but apparently third in line to the Italian Monarchy. The 53 was commanded by Throttleman Guido Capalini, 9-time UIM F1 World Champion.

A critical element in Powerboat P1's massive investment in this unique motor sport is the formula and enforcement of the rules ratified by the UIM World Authority (the water equivalent of land based FIA). Consequently following an interpretation relating to engines rules, the 99 Fountain was disqualified from Sunday's race.

Overall winner of Powerboat P1 Rounds One and Two and awarded the 2008 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX of the SEA - 77 LUCAS OIL, throttled by Nigel Hook and driven by Shelley Jory.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Powerboat
• P1
• Offshore
• Racing
• Nigel
• Hook
• Outerlimits
• Race
• Boat
• Evolution
• Speed
• Shelley
• Jory
• Finger Eleven
• Paralyzer

[MaxxyRacing]

Lucas Oil is the Best !!!

[PowerYacht]

great vid...

it would be good to have a comparison between the Outerlimits and Skater boat

looks the Skater is quicker to take off and in turns, but your Outerlimits of last year look more suited to rough moderate conditions...

Cigarette boat looks also awesome, and same for the updated GFN Gibellato

[issovic]

Gran bel video! Qualche immagine in più della città io ce l' avrei messa però....