The Grand Prix of the Sea race series heads to Dorset in September for the final round of the season!
Locals and visitors to the south coast are set for a real treat when the two P1 marine motorsport championships return to Bournemouth seafront for the season finale. A fleet of eleven powerboats and more than thirty Jet Ski riders will serve up a feast of high-speed action close to the pier on the weekend of 3rd and 4th September.
This will be P1’s third visit in a row to the town and the impressive growth and quality of Bournemouth’s free events programme plays a major role in the promoter selecting it as a host venue for its national championships. Another key factor in the decision is the superb amphitheatre setting for spectators to watch the racing from the cliff top, beach and pier. Robert Wicks, chief operating officer of Powerboat P1, explains: “Our event is a festival of skill and power, with a headline double bill of close-to-shore powerboat and jet ski racing plus on-the-water displays and a parade of around forty smart cars. It’s all about family entertainment and it’s free to watch.”
P1’s partnership with the Bournemouth Coastal Business Improvement District (BID) is an important element in its wider event strategy and the race weekend introduces a new range of visitors to all that Bournemouth has to offer and helps to boost trade and increase footfall in the town. The growth of P1, the world’s leading marine motorsport brand, involves delivering high-calibre events that generate significant levels of inward economic investment for host venues, together with the commercial platform created for sponsors and partners.
Paul Clarke, General Manager of the West Cliff Hallmark hotel and Chairman of the Coastal BID said: “We are proud to host and support the event in Bournemouth for the third year. It provides a superb showcase for the town through extensive media exposure, provides free entertainment for residents and visitors of all ages, and extends the tourism season into September to create local economic impact.”
Media and broadcast relationships play a significant role in delivering exposure for the P1 race venues and its commercial partners. The Bournemouth race action will be shown on Sky Sports and Motors TV here in the UK and internationally on leading sports channels in more than 100 countries and over 30,000 spectators are expected to watch the two days of racing.