MAHARASHTRA, FIRST STATE TO HOST THE UIM F1 POWERBOAT IN INDIA

Abu Dhabi, Sunday, 14 December 2003 - The Grand Prix of India will be scheduled March 5th - 7th, 2004 in Maharashtra, confirmed Nicolo di San Germano, Promoter U.I.M. F1 Powerboat Racing Championship in a press conference hosted by Chief Minister Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde after the homologation of the Mumbai FI Powerboat Circuit.

Nicolo di San Germano, Promoter of the U.I.M. F1 Powerboat Racing World Championship travelled to Mumbai (India) following the successful staging of the last Grand Prix of the 2003 season.

UIM Commissioner Jose Raphael Jesuita (Portugal) - who represents the UIM Powerboat Homologation Committee - accompanied di San Germano on the visit. The pair inspected the site of the future race.

During the press conference following the homologation of the track, the Chief Minister of Mahrarashtra Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde mentioned that he had discussions with officials regarding various development plans for Mumbai and Maharashtra in order to promote Mumbai as an international destination and place Maharashtra on the global tourism map.

" The first step will be to promote Mumbai for international events. The first meeting dates back to October 2003. Finally on December 2, 2003 in a meeting held in the presence of Mr Suresh Kalmadi, President Indian Olympic Association and Senior Government Officials we decided to propose Mumbai for the next U.I.M Powerboat World Championship" said Chief Minister of Mahrarashtra Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde.

In order to get more details and have discussions with Nicolo di San Germano, Promoter U.I.M. F1 Powerboat Racing Championship, a team of officers led by the Chief Secretary, was sent to the U.A.E in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi where the races were being held in the first week of December 2003. The team, as instructed by the Chief Minister signed an Agreement to hold the FI Powerboat Event in Mumbai from 5th to 7th of March 2004. The governement agreed to sponsor this event.

The Chief Minister of Mahrarashtra Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde also indicated that this event "should be used to promote Tourism and make use of the extensive international television coverage for the event to showcase Mumbai as an International Tourism Hub in the South Asian Region."

During the press conference, on December 13, 2003, the Chief Minister of Mahrarashtra Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde finally underlined that the future event "should be used to expose the school children of Mumbai to Water Sports activities. The one week long event will, thus, be the occasion of competition for School children of Mumbai. The Government of Maharashtra has recently adopted a policy on the use of water and wants to highlight the use of water as a precious asset for economic and tourism purposes. Seminars will be held during the event to highlight the environmental and economic uses of water as a precious resource".

Jose Raphael Jesuita, UIM Commissioner - who is also Race Director for the Portimão (Portugal) event, and the only race director who is also a UIM commissioner - represented the Homologation Committee for the homologation of the future track: "The circuit in Mumbai (India) will be 2.200 meters long. The circuit will have seven turns (6 to the left and one to the right).
There will be two long straight lines of 600 meters each and a number of four very short lines with 5 buoys.

The circuit will not be very fast but very spectacular and the FI powerboats will race very close to the public which should provide a very impressive race.
The race will be held in a very upscale area in Mumbai, one of the most ancient part of the city near the legendary 100 years old Hotel Taj Mahal. It will be a very demanding circuit for the drivers."

Nicolo di San Germano, Promoter U.I.M. F1 Powerboat Racing Championship:
" After a year of contacts with the representatives of India at different levels, it gives me pleasure to see the F1 Powerboat World Championship in Mumbai, India for the first time. I would like to thank Sunder MULCHANDANI, CEO of Argus for his help to bring 24 boats and drivers from 15 different nations to Mumbai for the inaugural India Grand Prix.

The UIM F1 Powerboat World Championship has come a long way since it was created 22 years ago in 1981. I am particularly proud this year to present this new venue an international level sport with 24 competitors representing 15 different nationalities. The coverage of F1 Powerboat races will reach more than 270 million homes around the world for a potential total viewership of 750 million this year."

For additional information, interviews or video footage please contact:

Steve Michael Reporting - Philippe Stiernon F1 Press Officer

Photos: http://www.f1boatphotos.com