High Speeds Hit Ft. Lauderdale Beaches
Key West, Fl – 5/30/2009 The Super Boat International Racing Series (Super Boat International) will visit Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on June 5 – 7, for the Panasonic Fifth Annual Fort Lauderdale Super Boat Grand Prix.
The Fort Lauderdale racecourse is a rectangle, with long straightaways and sharp corners that test the partnership between driver and throttleman. John Carbonell, CEO of Super Boat International, said each team is different in the way they navigate the course.
“Some teams come off the throttle quite a bit and cut in sharply around the corners,” Carbonell said. “Others maintain high speeds throughout the race and choose to make wide turns.”
But rough waters can slow down boats considerably, and Carbonell expects up to 6-foot swells in Fort Lauderdale. The combination of choppy conditions and miles of public beaches makes the Panasonic Fort Lauderdale Grand Prix fan-friendly.
In addition to being one of the most visible races on the schedule, the Fort Lauderdale event boasts a user-friendly race village with the wet pits, launch site and prime race viewing all within walking distance of the Bahia Mar Beach Resort, located at 801 Seabreeze Boulevard.
Some of the teams participating in the different divisions running at the Panasonic Fort Lauderdale Grand Prix include the Seminole Hard Rock racing team led by driver John Stanch and throttleman Peter Meyer. Other fan favorites include the Panasonic boat anchored by driver Joe Lamberti and throttleman Ben Robertson. Fans will also have the opportunity to watch the Aqua-Mania boat, handled by veterans Gregg Rosen and Rick Merola, return to the water after posting the fastest time of the day at the Panasonic Seventh Annual Marathon Super Boat Grand Prix in May.
Festivities for the Panasonic Fort Lauderdale Super Boat Grand Prix will begin Saturday with a Meet and Greet at the Bahia Mar Beach Resort, giving fans an opportunity to meet their favorite drivers. The Dry Pits will be open to fans Friday through Sunday with testing beginning Saturday at noon. The race will start at 1:00 p.m on Sunday. To find the best locations for race viewing, fans can visit the Race Viewing page on superboat.com.
Race fans unable to attend the event can also watch the Panasonic Fifth Annual Fort Lauderdale Super Boat Grand Prix on CBS Sports. The Fort Lauderdale Grand Prix and upcoming races will appear on the Saturday afternoon “CBS Sports Spectacular” line-up this fall.
