Team bosses Alfredo Nuzzo and Alfredo Amato partnered each other last year to seventh place in the SuperSport standings in the #22 Big Sergio boat.

Powerboat P1 SuperSport-class outfit Team Al & Al has revealed the two crews that will make up its dual assault on the production hull-based championship in 2009 with last year's boat being joined by a new Iveco-powered craft.

Team bosses Alfredo Nuzzo and Alfredo Amato partnered each other last year to seventh place in the SuperSport standings in the Powerboat P1 World Championship in the #22 Big Sergio boat. The pair will continue to drive alongside each other again in the Mercury-powered Carpenter 38, this time benefitting from brand-new engines and a name change to Strong Passion. Team Al & Al team manager Roberto Spina will be the team’s reserve pilot.

The outfit’s new boat – which will take the Big Sergio name in honour of the late, great Powerboat P1 racer Sergio Carpentieri – will be piloted by Alfredo Zanardo and Federico Montanari. The Italian-designed and built hull will be powered by Italian Iveco engines. Designer Angelo D’Ettore will act as reserve pilot for the new boat.

“It’s an investment that demonstrates the seriousness of our project,” Amato said. “We want to target a higher level of performance in the championship standings and to do it with two very competitive boats. We know that the level of competition in races this year will be very high, especially with all the other Italian teams. Amato is also contesting the World Professional Powerboat Association’s XCat championship in the early portion of this year, alongside throttleman Amedeo Mignogna, as he gears up for the first round of the Powerboat P1 championship at Valetta in Malta on May 8-10. The team finished sixth in their first race of the season in Dubai. “It’s a good test,” said Amato. “It allows the team to train to be the best the Powerboat P1.”