P1 all set to race back to Bournemouth for the 2016 Grand Prix of the Sea
P1 Powerboat and jet ski racing will return to Bournemouth for a third year on 3rd & 4th September for the Grand Finale to the five-venue P1 SuperStock and AquaX national championships.
P1 unveiled its plans for the coming season to local dignitaries, businesses and the media at a reception at the Hallmark Hotel West Cliff last week, with its Chief Operating Officer Robert Wicks highlighting the commercial opportunities on offer and how local businesses can get involved with the two-day race event in Bournemouth.
Wicks said: “Bournemouth has become internationally recognised for its year round events and free festivals, and it has shown that people are attracted by events like our own that are professionally staged and have broad appeal. Sports tourism has been an integral part of our business model since we started racing in 2003 and we are very much aware of the power of effective partnerships in this fast-growing sector of the travel and tourism industry in terms of attracting visitors, boosting the local economy and raising the profile of host venues. Our partnership with the Coastal BID is a key element in our event strategy and our race weekend will aim to introduce a new range of visitors to all that Bournemouth has to offer. We have appointed Dorset-based agency Route PR to handle our local media and partnerships.”
Paul Clarke, Chairman of Bournemouth Coastal BID said: “We are proud to support the P1 Championships. Bournemouth seafront is the perfect setting for this marine motorsport festival and we look forward to welcoming back the P1 fleet of twelve powerboats and more than forty jet skis for another memorable weekend of sporting action for all the family to enjoy. Last year more than 20,000 spectators watched the racing and displays over the two days and we are expecting even more spectators this year. P1 also helps to promote Bournemouth elsewhere in the UK as its race events receive significant national and international media coverage.”
Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr. John Adams was present at the launch event and commented: “We are delighted to host this fantastic event for the third year and thank P1 for choosing the country’s premier resort to stage its season finale. I spent time at the event last year and presented trophies to the winners – it was an action-packed weekend, it’s free to watch and great fun for all the family.”
For more information visit. www.powerboatp1.com
Photos courtesy of Christian Lawson show
Mayor and Mayoress of Bournemouth with Coastal BID Chairman Paul Clarke and Stefan Krause BID manager – on the P1 Panther
Robert Wicks with The Mayor & Mayoress – in a P1 Panther boat outside the event venue