Photo courtesy of speedonthewater.com
As the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix nears, anticipation rises as well. We take a look at teams preparing for the awaited weekend including John Tomlinson, our famed throttleman who will be joined in the cockpit by well known Travis Pastrana. Pastrana will be filling the driver’s seat for team owner and driver of record, Carlos de Quesada. The duo finished second in Cocoa Beach and are determined to bring home first place this next time around. Continue reading to learn more about the upcoming event and what’s to come!
The second race of the Union Internationale Motonautique Class 1 World Championship Series, the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix historically has been a tough venue for teams in the category. The Southwest Florida venue saw four Class 1 boats take the green flag in 2019—the first year of the ongoing Class 1 revival spearheaded by the Powerboat P1 group—but the event was canceled courtesy of the pandemic the following season. In 2021, delays caused the Class 1 contest, the final race of the day, to be scrubbed. The following year, three Class 1 boats took the green flag. (The XINSURANCE/Good Boy Vodka catamaran was registered and in Sarasota for the event but had a mechanical issue and did not start.)
Short version? Set for June 28-July 2, the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix could use a strong Class 1 showing this year on the six-mile course. And with the 222 Offshore Australia, df Young, Huski Ice Spritz, Pothole Heroes/Allegra Motorsports and XINSURANCE/Good Boy Vodka teams already registered, the event is poised for exactly that.
According to Huski throttleman Steve Curtis, who recently spoke with Class 1 Defalco team owner/driver Mike Falco, the currently unregistered Defalco outfit is testing next week.
“If they make it that would mean we’ll have seven teams for Sarasota,” Curtis said.
As previously reported on speedonthewater.com, Travis Pastrana will fill the driver’s seat for Pothole Heroes, which finished second in Cocoa Beach, for team owner Carlos de Quesada, who will be competing that weekend in the 24 Hours of LeMans. John Tomlinson, the team’s regular throttleman, will join Pastrana.
Pastrana typically alternates as the driver for the Huski Ice Spritz team with Lilly.
“We are only one race in, but there are always little things you learn as you spend time in the boat that help you get more and more familiar with what you’re doing and how changes affect the boat,” Tomlinson said. “I am looking forward to racing with Travis against his teammates. Our aim is to go for the win.”
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Original article published on speedonthewater.com
