Visit-Montenegro.com: Only bubbles remained
Lack of money leaves Budva out of the Calendar of the World Powerboat Championship – Powerboat Class 1: “Budva will not be the host of powerboat race spectacle this year since there were not enough sponsors to take part in organization of this prestigious event”, it is confirmed for Daily “Vijesti” in Budva-based company MC Marina and the local tourism organization which organized the racing event successfully last year.
Budva – “Budva will not be the host of powerboat race spectacle this year since there were not enough sponsors to take part in organization of this prestigious event”, it is confirmed for Daily “Vijesti” by Budva-based company MC Marina and the local tourism organization which organized the racing event successfully last year.
Exactly one year ago, the World Powerboat Championship “Hypo Group Montenegrin Grand Prix” was organized on 25th of May in the metropolis of tourism when it was announced that Budva would hold its position on the Calendar list of this racing event in the future. The patron of the Class 1 Competition was the local parliament of Budva and the company Hypo Group, while the Tourism Organization of Budva, the company “Montenegro-Powerboat” and MC Marina were organizers of the event. The Russian corporation Mirax Group was the major sponsor of the championship.
A three-day event cost more than EUR 600 thousand, out of which EUR 400 thousand was provided by the municipality and the remainder was provided by sponsors. Difficult budgetary situation in the municipality and the economic crisis that hit the leading companies, which were unwilling to get involved in financing this event, were the reasons why Budva was removed from the map of this glamorous sport this year.
There were 30 000 viewers of the last year’s spectacle in Budva, and some of them arrived to the metropolis of Montenegrin tourism for this particular reason.
There were nine teams set to fight it out for the coveted championship title last year: Victory 1, Qatar 96, Victory 7, Qatar 95, Foresti & Suardi 8, SeveneleveN 18, Jotun 90.
The entire 23-lap race around the Island of Sveti Nikola was broadcast by local media and documented by press and media representatives from the region as well as from entire Europe. The footage shot by TV Class was broadcast later in several countries worldwide.
All lovers of powerboat racing could enjoy in the sight of 14 meter-long luxurious powerboats up to 5 tons weight. Their characteristics resemble the Formula One and Jet plane combined into one. Class One entries are capable of speeds higher than 200km/h with1800 hp engines.
Powerboats at full speed finished 23-lap race around the Island of Sveti Nikola for less than 60 minutes.
By V.L.