Miami Marine Stadium will host the inaugural P1 Miami Grand Prix on Apr. 21-22, beginning a spectacular season of P1 AquaX and P1 SuperStock racing.
Powerboat P1, which has offices in Florida, London and Malaysia, is the global rights holder for three marine-motorsport series: the P1 SuperStock powerboat racing championship, P1 AquaX personal watercraft championship and P1 Jetcross stand-up ski racing series.
The Miami Marine Stadium has been chosen to host the opening round of both the P1 SuperStock and P1 AquaX 2018 seasons. This will be the first time the Miami Marine Stadium has witnessed a powerboat race in 26 years, since 1992 when Hurricane Andrew ripped through the region.
Hilario Candela, the architect who first built the stadium in 1963, said of its reopening: “The Miami Marine Stadium is the most iconic piece of Miami’s waterfront, continuously reinforcing the international present and future of this acclaimed center of the arts, culture and sports.”
Over the years the stadium has hosted speed boat races; rowing and sailing regattas; triathlons; long distance swimming; classical, pop, latin and rock music concerts; boat shows; sunrise services, and international arts installations.
It’s great to see powerboat racing return to the Miami Marine Stadium basin,” Candela added. “In 1963, I had the privilege to originally design the stadium; now, I have the privilege of redesigning it.”
The event will welcome reigning P1 SuperStock USA champions Frank Silva and Tony Ianotta as well as P1 AquaX’s world champion Chris MacClugage, who will all be hoping to get their 2018 season off to a strong start with wins at the opening round.
The P1 AquaX and P1 SuperStock racing, which take place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., on Saturday, Apr. 21, and Sunday, Apr. 22, will be free to attend and welcomes all powerboat and PWC enthusiasts. For those that want to watch the action in style there are also a limited number of VIP packages available to purchase.
The $50 VIP ticket includes complimentary food and drink and prime viewing of the race course. A $210 Elite VIP ticket has the addition of experience rides on the water, private tours of the race pits as well as meet and greets with the racers.
“The events will bring great nostalgia to those that remember how racing was at the stadium 26 years ago and bring excitement to those experiencing the stadium’s magic for the first time,” said Azam Rangoonwala, CEO of Powerboat P1.
Powerboat P1 hopes to be a driving force in shining a spotlight on the stadium. In doing so they hope to encourage further support and investment to fully restore Miami Marine Stadium and return it to its former glory.
For the full event schedule, visit www.P1SuperStock.com or www.P1AquaX.com.
