The Super Boat International Racing Series (Super Boat International) will visit Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on June 5 – 7, for the Panasonic Fifth Annual Fort Lauderdale Super Boat Grand Prix.
The Fort Lauderdale racecourse is a rectangle, with long straightaways and sharp corners that test the partnership between driver and throttleman. John Carbonell, CEO of Super Boat International, said each team is different in the way they navigate the course.
“Some teams come off the throttle quite a bit and cut in sharply around the corners,” Carbonell said. “Others maintain high speeds throughout the race and choose to make wide turns.”
But rough waters can slow down boats considerably, and Carbonell expects up to 6-foot swells in Fort Lauderdale. The combination of choppy conditions and miles of public beaches makes the Panasonic Fort Lauderdale Grand Prix fan-friendly.
In addition to being one of the most visible races on the schedule, the Fort Lauderdale event boasts a user-friendly race village with the wet pits, launch site and prime race viewing all within walking distance of the Bahia Mar Beach Resort, located at 801 Seabreeze Boulevard.
Some of the teams participating in the different divisions running at the Panasonic Fort Lauderdale Grand Prix include the Seminole Hard Rock racing team led by driver John Stanch and throttleman Peter Meyer. Other fan favorites include the Panasonic boat anchored by driver Joe Lamberti and throttleman Ben Robertson.
Festivities for the Panasonic Fort Lauderdale Super Boat Grand Prix will begin Saturday with a Meet and Greet at the Bahia Mar Beach Resort, giving fans an opportunity to meet their favorite drivers. The Dry Pits will be open to fans Friday through Sunday with testing beginning Saturday at noon. The race will start at 1:00 p.m on Sunday.