ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Monday, March 29, 2010 – The UIM F1 H2O World Championship for power boating, celebrating it's 30th Anniversary season, is debuting a new “Junior” Formula Class with the introduction of the SL60 boats.
The new introductory series to the tour, will hi-lite young, upcoming drivers, who are developing towards their dream of driving in the ultimate class of racing on water, the UIM F1 H20 World Championship and their 400+ horsepower boats that can reach 225 kph (140 mph) while turning as much as six (6) G's in the corners of their multiple turn race circuits making this the most exciting sport on water.
One of the new young drivers in the SL 60 class this year will be the defending World Champion Stefan Hagin who joins the Atlantic F1 Team with friend and mentor Fabian Kalsow. The 28 year-old Kalsow of Neustadt, Germany begins his fourth season in F1 with new teammate Duarte Benavente of Portugal.
“I'm really excited about joining the Atlantic Team and be with my long time friend Fabian and Duarte as well,” said Stefan. “This situation is a perfect fit for me since I am only 21 years old and now will have an introduction of F1 with this series in which the whole world will be watching as well. This is going to be a great opportunity and a great way for me to show off my ability.”
Stefan, is the defending World Champion in the SL 60 Class (Formula 4S) after being the 2008 German title holder while repeating as well in 2009. The young driver from Wittlingen, in the south of Germany, 30 km from Basel, Switzerland, seems to be a natural talent who will be facing some stiff competition this season in the category.
“I'm excited about having him join the team,” said Fabian. “I've known him awhile and see his dedication and this will only rub off on others in our team. I signed the contract with him for the season and he will also be my reserve driver for my two seater promotional boat which is always busy and plan on giving him an introduction to a F1 boat test later this year.”
The SL 60 Class is scheduled to start it's series beginning with the St. Petersburg, Russia event on the Neva River for the Grand Prix of Russia on the weekend of the 10th and 11th of July. Each F1 team this season will have a SL 60 boat on the water with team colors helping at the same time the opportunity for young drivers in their quest for a F1 career.
The Atlantic Team, features lead driver Duarte Benavente, who is starting his 12th F1 season at his home Grand Prix in Portimao, Portugal on the eighth and ninth of May looking for 91st career start and his second podium finish in a row. The German Kalsow will be starting in his 26th Grand Prix having finished all but one of his races since his “Rookie-of-the-Year” campaign in 2005.
The ever changing face of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship adds a support class for the first time giving the racing fans from around the globe not only an opportunity to watch more racing on a typical Grand Prix weekend but to see as well the future stars of the sport with the new SL 60 campaign joining the excitement in 2010.
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