5th April 2010, Dubai. Eight countries and twenty-one teams will line up for Heat 1 of the UIM Xcat Middle East Championships at Dubai International Marine Club, (DIMC), marking the start of the long awaited extreme series. Seven new teams will join the more established of the re branded Class 3 six-liter catamaran powerboats on a thirteen-lap race comprising 52.38 nautical miles offshore from Mina Seyahi in full view of the public from the DIMC Breakwater and surrounding beaches.
The Xcat series has rapidly become the largest powerboat racing fleet in the world and teams have been attracted by a number of factors including affordability, accessibility, effective organization and prize money which has a direct affect on supplementing the teams overall budget.
‘The simplicity of the class makes it attractive to everyone,’ said Sid Bensalah, General Secretary of the World Professional Powerboat Association, (WPPA). ‘We wanted to create a workable circuit with an affordable class and be able to support the class to enable development and media coverage. With the backing of the local governments we have been able to offer financial benefits through the prize money awarded in differing quantities to most of the finishing boats.’
In terms of media the series organization incorporates comprehensive coverage for TV, which includes invaluable virtual eye technology and a distribution package that hits a worldwide audience. The race will take place at 15:00 April 6th followed by heat 2 at 12:30 April 9th in DIMC, then Heat 3 and 4 in Abu Dhabi on April 26th and 30th.