History of F1 Racing

Renato Molinari in 1984

The story of the most spectacular, longed for technologically sophisticated and demanding class of modern powerboating bearing the acronym F1 is relatively recent. With this story are, anyway, associated the names of some of the most popular drivers of the last 15 years. Three styles have stood out among others: the American, the English and most of all the Italian, or better that of Lake Como. In fact the (Italian) several times champion Renato Molinari has almost become a legend.

Nowadays F1 crafts easily exceed the speed of 200 km/h in the straights and keep up 160-180 km/h also in the narrowest turns around the buoy. The acceleration from standstill allows them to reach 100 km/h in 3.5 sees (3 sees F1 cars), thanks to a favourable weight/power ratio equal to about 1 HP per kilogram. The new catamarans have a minimum weight of 390 kg, are 6 metres long, 2.5 metres wide and are propelled by Mercury 2,500 cc or OMC 3,000 cc engines, tuned up for the purpose by every single team, which produce some 350 HP on 9,0009,700 r.p.m.

The official name Formula One goes back to 1981, when the International Powerboating Union in Montecarlo recognised it. Up to that moment, the main categories were the OZ unlimited capacity (usually from 3,600 to 4,500 cc) - and the ON, outboard engined too, whose capacity was 2,000 cc. This class was later named Formula Grand Prix. From 1981 to 1989 F1 and Grand Prix races were held in parallel. The world champions were three: Renato Molinari in F1, the American Bill Seebold (who now produces racing cats) in ON and the Englishman Tony Williams in Formula 2, which was later named Grand Prix. The difference is substantially bureaucratic more than technical: the American and European international powerboating authorities and racing courses officials could not agree.

Before the present UIM score classification two races were held, each one lasting four hours. Whoever had covered the greatest number of kilometres would become the champion. Mater the driver who made the best three manches out of the total of four yearly would be awarded the title. Subsequently from 1981, score classification were established down to the sixth, where the first got 9 points.

Source: f1boat.com