Powerboats P1 driver Aaron Ciantar will be making a step up in class in 2010 after the announcement yesterday that the two-time SuperSport world champion will be forming part of the Ukrainian Spirit team that will make its debut in the Evoulution Class championship next year.
Speaking at the Chaudron factory in Bulebel, Ciantar told reporters that his family's company had just succeeded in penning a new three-year contract with Ukrainian Spirit that will see the Maltese firm constructing two new powerboats for the new season.
"I am pleased to announce that we have just reached an agreement to extend our relationship with Ukrainian businessman Victor Shemchuk for another three seasons," Ciantar said.
"Chaudron will construct two new boats for the Ukrainian Spirit team which will race in both SuperSport and Evolution categories in the 2010 P1 championship. This deal is a huge achievement for our company as we managed to beat the stiff competition of other firms, some from the US, who had shown strong interest in this project.
"My father, Charlie, will take the role of team manager of the team and his job will be to make sure that the two boats will be in good shape throughout the season. This is an ambitious project for our family but we are confident we will enjoy another successful season."
For Ciantar the switch to Evolution can be described as a natural outcome to his recent success in the Powerboat P1 World Championship. The 28-year-old dominated the last two world SuperSport championships and is now relishing the prospect of testing his skills with the 'big boys' of powerboat racing.
"After six years in SuperSport I felt the time was right to make the shift to the Evolution class," Ciantar said.
"I think I'm taking this decision at the right moment. To compete in Evolution class a pilot requires skills but also loads of experience in powerboat racing and I think that I have gained a lot during my time in the SuperSport class.
"We know that it's not going to be easy. It will take time to settle in this category as I will be driving a much more powerful boat with a maximum speed of 115 mph as opposed to last year's 85 mph in SuperSport. Our plan is to make sure the boat is ready by the end of March so we'll have enough time to get accustomed to it and practise before the season starts."
Shemchuk, who partnered Ciantar for the World Championship title as navigator last season, is looking forward to another successful season for the yellow and blue team.
"We're really pleased that we will be working again with the Ciantar family for the next three seasons," Shemchuk said.
"The Chaudron brand has become one of the best in the powerboat circuit and they won this contract ahead of some prestigious names. Last season, I really enjoyed the collaboration we had with Charles and Aaron who are very passionate about their job and their enthusiasm has brought about in our success in the SuperSport championship.
"Next season Ukrainian Spirit will be represented in both classes. We have an all-Ukraine line-up in SuperSport and I will be partnering Aaron in Evolution. I'm really excited by the prospect of this next challenge.
"Even though it will be the first time that we will be racing in the bigger class, I'm confident that we will be strong contenders. Aaron is an accomplished pilot and his talent will certainly push our team to great success next season."
Also present for yesterday's news conference was Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport Clyde Puli. He congratulated the Ciantar family for their success in the boat-building business and said they were an inspiration for the country.
"Malta should be really proud for all the feats the Ciantar family has achieved in powerboat racing in recent years," Puli said.
"Winning back-to-back world championships is an outstanding achievement from all aspects and at the same time they have managed to attract huge investment from a relatively new market when teaming up with the Ukrainian Spirit team.
There's no doubt that this success is fruit of the huge maritime tradition our country enjoys and we all now hope that they will continue to attract more foreign investment.
"Aaron has proved he's a very talented driver who can race against the best in the powerboat championship. I'm confident that next season the Chaudron family will again put Malta on the forefront of the boat-building industry."
The new Powerboat P1 championship next year starts in Croatia on April 16-18. This Grand Prix will be followed by the one in Yalta, Ukraine, between May 7 and 9. The Malta Grand Prix of the Sea is yet to be confirmed on the 2010 calendar.
Evolution class
The Powerboat P1 World Championship consists of two race classes: Evolution and SuperSport, with powerboats from each class competing in two separate rounds - Sprint and Endurance - over the course of a race weekend.
All P1 boats are twin-engine monohulls, fuelled either by powerful petrol or diesel engines. Boats in the Evolution and SuperSport class are required to have a minimum crew of two - a pilot and a throttleperson - with some teams even adding an extra-navigator to do some of the work.
Evolution class boats are modified production and/or prototype crafts with a fully closed canopy and safety cell.
Evolution boats are more powerful and possess bigger engines, allowing for speeds of over 100mph. Measuring between 36-43ft, the boats have a maximum power-to-weight of 1hp per 3.5kg.
The pilot and throttlepersons must be seated and harnessed in the Evolution class.