After winning the 2004 SuperSport category of the P1 World Championship, Marco Pennesi, driver and owner of Team Speedbuster and the shipyard Metamarine, chose to move up to the Evolution category in 2005, with a new boat, designed and built by him specifically to compete in P1.

The Evolution Class is open to boats with a minimum length of 36ft and maximum of 43ft using inboard motors only and with a minimum post-race weight of 4250 kg. Whilst these high powered prototype racing craft can reach speeds in excess of 100mph (equivalent of more than 200mph on land), the rules demand a power to weight ratio of 1hp to 3.5kg with a maximum average lap speed of 87mph and top speed of 95mph to ensure safe and competitive racing. Pennesi's new Evolution Class boat, called Fainplast, experienced some technical problems during the season convincing him to consider developing even some of the mechanical components including the drive surface system, propellers, gear boxes and flaps. He and his team spent all winter building and testing new technical elements and when, at the end of May, Fainplast was considered ready for action, with the exception of the engine the craft had been completely built by the Metamarine shipyard.

Winning in a championship as competitive as Powerboat P1 is not easy, it requires great skill and courage and like all top level motorsport is fraught with danger. During testing on the morning of the Grand Prix of Italy, the second round of the 2006 Powerboat P1 Offshore World Championship, Fainplast turned over whilst practicing a high speed turn and sank. Thankfully, pilots Marco Pennesi, Ernesto Ascani and Luigi Bisceglia were not injured in the accident but there was great despair throughout the team as they reflected on all the hard work that had already been invested and the time and money now required repairing the boat.

Unable to compete in the second leg of the race, within 24 hours of the incident, the boat was back at the team’s shipyard and the hard work commenced. This highly motivated and determined team spent the whole of June - day and night- working on the boat to ensure that it would be ready in time for the next event, the German Grand Prix, the third round of the series, which took place on 02-03 July. They dismounted and remounted the engines, the gears, the transmission and changed all the electrical components and instruments damaged in the sinking. Fortunately the structure of the boat is very strong and required no further care.
 

In Germany, the team was rewarded for all their hard work in the best possible way, winning the second leg of the German Grand Prix in Travemunde with a highly impressive performance. Now they hope to repeat the result in the next race which takes place in eight days time, the Grand Prix of the Mediterranean, in Gallipoli, not far from Metamarine’s home base in San Benedetto del Tronto.

Mediterranean Grand Prix, Gallipoli, Italy (29 - 30 July)

The ancient Southern Italian city of Gallipoli lies south of the baroque citadel of Lecce and is not to be confused with the area of the Dardanelle peninsula in Turkey that bears the same name and which witnessed one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. Located on the 'heel' of the 'boot' formed by the Italian coastline Gallipoli has a medieval centre on an island with its own natural harbour that is linked to the modern town by a long stone bridge.

Gallipoli is a city with ancient Greek origins that are reflected in its name, which is derived from 'kale polis' - the Greek words for lovely town. In its more than 2000 year history the city was also an important Roman municipum and a stronghold against invading Norman forces during the Byzantine period.

Historic and artistic treasures to be found in modern day Gallipoli include the beautiful baroque cathedral of Sant' Agata, the white church of the Purita and the Church of St Francis of Assisi. The city is also notable for the narrow lanes and balconied houses of its historic centre, it's footpaths scented with juniper and myrtle winding through rocks to soft, sandy beaches and its turquoise sea.

In addition Gallipoli is a gastronomic delight, with numerous restaurants offering local specialities in particular fresh fish and other seafood, and has a vibrant nightlife. When the Powerboat P1 World Championship comes to town in July competitors, officials and spectators alike will receive a warm welcome from the city known as the 'The Pearl of the Ionian Sea'.