A complete review of operations has been completed over the winter and a number of improvements in key areas are being implemented for the 2012 season.

Mick PritchardTop of the list are several new members of the operations team. Mick Pritchard (pictured) joins from the successful Zapcat series as Officer Of The Day (OOD) bringing years of experience as both a race organiser and competitor. Mick was British Zapcat champion in 2007 and 2008 before a back injury forced him out of the cockpit and into the start boat as Zapcat Race Director and OOD.

“Mick is the perfect fit for us as he is an ex-racer, experienced organiser and also has a commercial string to his bow as part owner of the Zapcat brand. He fully understands the aims of Powerboat P1 to establish powerboat racing as the third pillar of motorsport”, commented SuperStock UK Championship Manager Paolo Callea.

Pritchard will work closely with P1 AquaX Championship Manager Lisa Barsby on all aspects of running both the AquaX and SuperStock UK races. “I’m looking forward to working with Mick and continuing our work to deliver a first class race meeting to all our competitors. The fact he was a title-winning driver is hugely important as he sees the event from many angles including the driver’s eye-view.”

Karen Cable has been promoted into the new role of Series Administrator for both AquaX and SuperStock UK bringing a wealth of experience in competitor liaison to Powerboat P1. She will also become Race Secretary at P1’s Grand Prix of the Sea events.

Jack Weller joins the new team working on operations and logistics; he is also a former Zapcat racer. Tom Pedersen will be the new Safety Officer bringing 10 years experience of single-class racing to the team and a wide knowledge of the sea through his job working for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

A new race weekend format is being finalised ready for a planned open day for competitors on Saturday, March 24, with the AquaX and SuperStock UK season starting in mid May.