Asia-Pacific offshore powerboat race series announced

Photo courtesy Karel Overlaet/ Premier Ocean Events.

Premier Ocean Events brings offshore powerboat racing to the countries of Sout East Asia with the announcement of the Asia Pacific Grand Tour (ASPAC-GT).

The concept is the brainchild of veteran marine industry stalwart and offshore racer Adrian Bright, who recruited Australian Offshore Challenge founder Roger Dickeson to join him in ensuring that offshore powerboat racing, secures its place in the blossoming Asia Pacific leisure marine industry.

Established and hugely popular in Europe, the Middle East and the United States, offshore powerboat racing is relatively new to Asia. The ASPAC-GT series introduces a true race series to the region with teams competing for the Championship title and the ASPAC-GT Cup, ultimately in a season of four to six races with each race in a different host city.

The series aims to be in harmony with the culture of the region, with a racing class structure focussed initially on production based monohulls and engines, presenting an opportunity for the people of the region to sample an exciting sport economically and safely.

Backing the series are initiatives to provide driver and crew training, as well as industry involvement to encourage local performance boatbuilding and the application of the modern engine technologies available in the greater Asian region.

A very keen acknowledgement of environmental issues positions the series as a role model for offshore powerboat racing worldwide.

Rights holder, Premier Ocean Events, is presently engaged with government and commercial partners in the region and expects to stage the concept event in late 2012, leading to a three or four race series in 2013.

While honouring the host venue’s right to announce the event, those anticipating the series can be assured the opening event will be in a particularly prestigious location in South East Asia.

For more information, visit www.premieroceanevents.com.