The UIM F1H2O World Championship is set to resume competition since the beginning of the pandemic at the European Grand Prix in San Nazzaro, Italy, located in the Region of Emilia Romagna. This is F1H2O’s first race in Italy following a 15 year absence with the last Grand Prix being on Lake Como in 2006. The Grand Prix will take place on the River Po, with historical teams and new competitors entering the season-opening race, Sept. 10-12.

Two time and defending F1H2O World Champion Shaun Torrente is set to return with Team Abu Dhabi to continue his quest for another world title this season. San Nazzaro is a uniquely familiar setting for Team Abu Dhabi, as the team test and prepare the race boats there, and the DAC factory headed by Guido Capellini, where the boats are built is also nearby.

Torrente will return to Italy on Aug. 29 to take part in an extensive pre-season test program with Team Abu Dhabi Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, before returning to the United States to compete in the P1 Offshore St. Pete Powerboat Grand Prix.

On returning to racing, Shaun Torrente said, “I can’t wait to be back with the team. The Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan has given us an incomparable opportunity and I’m looking forward to once again represent—and win for—Team Abu Dhabi. This team has achieved back-to-back F1H2O World Championships, and two endurance championships in just two years, which is an amazing tribute to the team’s work and commitment of the ADIMSC. Salem Rashed Amer Al Remeithi and Guido Capellini organize a first class team, and I’m grateful for their partnership in preparing the boats with all of the steadfast work of our crew members.”

On the European Grand Prix, he said, “San Nazzaro is a special place for us. The parents of my radioman Alessandro Cremona operate this racing club, so it’s a big deal for us to have that local connection, in addition to all of the extensive testing we do there. If not for the pandemic we would not have had the opportunity to race in San Nazzaro so I view that as a silver lining. I’m thankful for all of the work that has been done by the local organizations and F1H2O to produce this race.”

On pre-season testing, he said, “We enjoy unrivaled team support and commitment to the mission of winning world championships. Testing is a major component of how we approach preparing to win championships. The three day test in San Nazzaro will provide us a platform for methodical data acquisition, set up tuning, and reviewing our systems and practices.”

On returning to racing, Lavinia Cavallero, Senior Vice President of H2o Racing, said, “We are very happy to resume our racing activity in Italy—a location which means a lot for the powerboat world, and I would like to deeply thank all the people and institutions who with their work and efforts are helping us to realize the Grand Prix.”

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