Italian boat Kerakoll, powered by Isotta Fraschini engines, stormed to a decisive victory in last weekend's P1 Powerboat Grand Prix of Italy which took place in Anzio. Kerakoll, piloted by Mario Invernizzi and Giovanni Carpitella, had already won the opening round of the world championship held in Malta last month, and with this second win the team have demonstrated they are sure to be strong contenders for the title.

Kerakoll is powered by Isotta Fraschini Motori marine engines, the famous historical Italian automotive name alive and well today as a manufacturer of large engines based in Bari. The company produces two families of modern high speed diesel engines which cover a range from 200 to 2.500 kW power for both marine and industrial applications. They build non-magnetic engines and generating sets, for use in mine-hunting vessels, which have gained leadership in the world markets and counting amongst their users also the United States Navy. Isotta Fraschini Motori SpA also manufactures under Licence, medium speed diesel engines dubbed as "Isotta Fraschini Sulzer S 20" which cover a range from 640 to 1575 kW MCR for both marine and industrial applications.

Twenty powerboats lined up in Anzio, Italy, last weekend for rounds three and four of the 2006 Powerboat P1 Offshore World Championship, the Grand Prix of Italy, spilt into two classes, Supersport and Evolution. Mario Invernizzi and Giovanni Carpitella piloted Kerakoll to its second victory of the season in the first race of the weekend on Saturday, overcoming heavy seas to lead the P1 Powerboat World Championship after three races. It was an impressive performance after a relatively slow start as the Isotta Fraschini-powered machine battled for the lead with fellow Italians OSG. The tussle lasted for two laps before Kerakoll could establish its supremacy and distance itself from the pack.

"It was very rough and yet the boat was perfectly balanced and proved that it can perform in all conditions," said Kerakoll's pilot Mario Invernizzi. "The waters were much rougher today than in Malta but our set-up was perfect and as a result we found it much less arduous on the body than we did in Malta. By half way we knew we had a big lead and decided to ease off to be in good shape for tomorrows second leg. It is always a great thrill to win in our home Grand Prix, for ourselves, the boat builder and Isotta Fraschini, our engine manufacturer."

Local favourite Thuraya, piloted by Adriano Panatta, Claudio Castellani and Raffaele Giannoni maintained its excellent early season form with third place. During the later stages of the race Thuraya, possibly benefiting from local knowledge and the demanding conditions, began to ‘reel in’ OSG, gaining on every lap and despite coming within a boats length during the penultimate lap Panatta could not find that extra power from the Lamborghini engines.
 

Twenty craft started, creating a dramatic spectacle for the large crowds packing the grandstands, yet only 12 finished. The organisers had been forced to revert to a ‘storm course’ shortly before the start with troughs of 2 metres to the north of the course. It was difficult for the teams to spot buoys and speeds were noticeably slower than normal. The conditions have certainly taken their toll on boats and pilots who, battered and bruised, will now start the preparation for tomorrow’s second leg of the Grand Prix of Italy.

Yesterday Kerakoll fought off the early challenge of OSG to secure victory in the Evolution class of the Powerboat P1 Grand Prix of Italy in the second race of the weekend. The crowds were again treated to spectacular action as winds and high waves buffeted the boats throughout the race as the 19 strong field challenged for positions. It was not long before Kerakoll moved into the lead but try as it may, it could not shake off the challenge of the Donzi craft of OSG, piloted by Giancarlo Cangiano and Stefano Cola. They looked set to take second place before a ‘cooked’ engine caused their retirement just minutes from the finish.

As the race developed there was an intriguing battle for the third podium place between Italian boats SIF, Trident, the Austrians Wettpunkt.com and the local heroes Thuraya. Trident were a strong third until OSG retired, promoting the Metamarine craft, in the hands of Giuseppe Salvatori, Dario Longo and Maurizio di Stasio, into second place and putting the third place position up-for-grabs. This was the spur that Thuraya needed and in a remarkable last lap the Lamborghini- powered boat of Adriano Panatta, Claudio Castellani and Raffaele Giannoni crashed through the waves and as it passed Wettpunkt to take third place on the day and second place in the Grand Prix. The roar of the crowd said everything, it was a fitting finale for the team’s trusty craft and engines before Thuraya take delivery of a new boat ready for the next event. For Wettpunkt it was a disappointment not to secure a podium place after promising much but the Austrian team posted a warning to its rivals that the new boat is a force to be reckoned with.

The two-legged Grand Prix was decided by the aggregate points totalled from the two races and the final classifications after two demanding yet exhilarating races was an emphatic win for Kerakoll, with Thuraya second and the wild card entry, SIF, piloted by Renato Guidi and Vittoria Foglia Manzillo a creditable third. The 2006 Powerboat P1 Offshore World Championship now travels to Travemunde for the German Grand Prix on the 1st-2nd July. Last year around 170,000 spectators turned out to watch the P1 spectacle.