Powerboat Grand Prix set to return to Scarborough's South Bay

Powerboats racing in last year's P1 event at South Bay, Scarborough

Following the success of the inaugural P1 race event in Scarborough in May last year, the world’s leading marine motorsport brand will again head to the North Yorkshire coast for the opening round of its UK season, with the event carrying the name of the P1 Yorkshire Grand Prix of the Sea.

The double bill of P1 SuperStock powerboat racing and AquaX jet ski action will provide a weekend of free-to-watch sporting entertainment at South Bay on Saturday May 14 and Sunday May 15.

Dale Power Solutions, the UK power protection and business continuity solutions company based in Scarborough, will again be on board as the title sponsor.

Joining Dale Power Solutions as an event sponsor will be another Yorkshire-based company, Dalby Offshore, a leading operator in the offshore shipping industry.

“Scarborough offers first class facilities and attractions and proved to be a superb location to launch our 2015 season” said P1 chief operating officer Robert Wicks.

“With its historic harbour and castle headland, the geography of South Bay offers us a natural amphitheatre for racing and for spectators to view all the action and we are working with our partners, sponsors and local businesses to make this year’s event an even better spectacle and to attract more visitors to the borough and boost the local economy.”

Dale Power Solutions CEO Tim Wilkins is delighted to be renewing the company’s title sponsorship: “The atmosphere last year was fantastic and the event was a tremendous advertisement for our company as we celebrated our 80th anniversary. It enabled us to showcase our brand, engage with new audiences and bring key clients from around the UK to our headquarters in Scarborough.”

Janet Deacon, Area Director at Welcome to Yorkshire, added: “We are delighted that Dale Power Solutions will again be the headline sponsor of the event. Having such a reputable, award-winning company contribute to growing the visitor economy is fantastic. Last year’s event proved to be a great success and we are confident that next weekend will be even better.”

Action on the water will commence at 9.30am on Saturday morning when the SuperStock powerboat teams will aim to secure a good starting position in the opening race at 12.30pm in a time trial along the coast to Filey and back.

This will be followed by hydroflight and jet ski freestyle displays off the East and West Piers, with the sporting entertainment continuing until 4pm.

Sunday’s programme will get underway at 10.30am, featuring powerboat races, jet ski action and displays, with the Mayor making the podium presentations at the close of the Grand Prix of the Sea at 4.30pm.

The 2016 P1 national championships will again see powerboat teams and jet ski riders compete at five venues around the country – Greenock on the River Clyde, Gosport and Bournemouth on the south coast and Cardiff Bay - with more than 150,000 spectators expected to enjoy the two-day events across the summer.

The race action will be broadcast in the UK and to an international television audience in more than 100 countries.