During the past two seasons of adrenalin-charged UIM Powerboat P1 World Championship action, Isotta Fraschini engines have won eleven races and five overall Grand Prix titles in the Evolution Class. It is therefore not surprising that a company that took the lead in recognising the potential of Powerboat P1 as a marketing platform for the marine industry should now be producing its first high performance ‘racing’ engine, derived from its highly successful exploits in the World Championship.

A three phase strategy to produce a top level racing engine started in 2005 with the development of a prototype engine for use in the Fabio Buzzi design of Mario Invernizzi. During the season the engine was refined in preparation for 2006. “We have now entered the third phase,” explains Giuseppe 'Joe Gelonese' of Isotta Fraschini, “with the launch of our first ‘racing’ engine which we launched to the marine industry at the Genoa Boat show in October. P1 has been the point of reference for a great many of our recent enquiries and we now have a high performance diesel engine, perfected from our experiences and successes in the Powerboat P1 World Championship, that is available for use in high performance pleasure and racing craft.”

The new engine recently made a high-profile public debut at the 46th International Boat Show in Genoa, a world-class show organised by Fiera di Genova S. and UCINA. The event ran from Saturday 7th October to Sunday 15th October and lived up to its billing as the number one boat show in the world.
 

A very wide range of products was on display in Genoa from the 1,200 exhibitors taking part; as well as Isotta Fraschini who were showing their marine engine range, exhibits included no less than 2,200 boats, nautical accessories, diving and fishing equipment, tourism, services, sector publishing, and technical clothing and equipment.

Isotta Fraschini Motori S.p.A. is part of the Fincantieri Group. The headquarters and factory are based in Bari - Italy. The company produces two families of modern high speed diesel engines which cover a range from 200 to 2,500 kW for both marine and industrial applications. Mention can be made in particular of its non-magnetic engines and generating sets, for use in mine-hunting vessels, which have gained the leader ship of the world market, counting among their users also the United States Navy. Moreover Isotta Fraschini Motori SpA manufactures under Licence, medium speed diesel engines "Isotta Fraschini Sulzer S 20" which cover a range from 640 to 1575 kW MCR for both marine and industrial applications.