Racing Legend Guido Cappellini to Class 1 in Rio this Month!

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Monday, 22 March, 2010 - F1 Powerboat legend, Guido Cappellini, will get his second start in the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship, 16-years after his Class 1 debut alongside Renato Molinari, in this week’s Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro, 26-28 March.

The opportunity to race in the season-opener was offered to Cappellini by Domenico Cirilli, team principal of Spanish outfit, Duemme Yacht Broker, following the last-minute and unexpected withdrawal of HRHP Turki Bin Thamer Bin Saud Al Saud. “I'd like to thank Duemme Yacht Broker and IOTA who gave me this opportunity,” said Cappellini.

“The Class 1 Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro is an historical event for powerboat racing and I am honoured to be one of the protagonists. It will be a new experience for me. I am really looking forward to testing and competing in the first races of the season and to understand how the discipline has developed over the years. What am I expecting ? A new experience and of course to enjoy doing something different and quite new for me.”

Cappellini will take the wheel in the Michael Peters-designed Mercury V8-powered Tencara, Duemme Yacht - Foresti e Suardi, alongside fellow-Italian and experienced throttleman, Giampaolo Montavoci, a veteran of 92 races who achieved his best overall finish in the World Championship standings last season in fourth place.

Born in Mariano Comense (CO), Italy on 7 September, 1959 and now living in Monte Carlo, Cappellini has dominated the F1 Powerboat Championship for the last two decades, winning the World title ten-times, taking 62 race and 70 Pole Position wins.

He made his F1 Powerboat racing debut in 1985, winning his first World title in 1993, which he retained for the next three years. He lifted his fifth title in 1999, and then claimed a hat-trick of titles in 2001, 2002 and 2003. His ninth World crown came in 2005 and his tenth last season.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Nigel Quilter tel: +44(0)1252 713223 / mob: +44(0)7785 325346 q@class-1.com / q@q4media.com