Reigning Powerboat P1 SuperStock World and UK Champions from Saundersfoot in Wales, Sam and Daisy Coleman have their sights set on glory overseas as they sign for GEICO Racing to contest the P1 SuperStock USA Championship in 2019.
With the P1 series in the UK taking a hiatus last year, they turned their hands to another form of powerboat racing in the single seater Powerboat GP Series with the highly successful Jelf Racing team.
Sam finished 4th in the British F4 Championship despite limited time in the boat.
Having thoroughly enjoying his first season of F4 circuit racing, he admits he’s looking forward to being back in the boat with his sister Daisy:
The team dynamic of offshore racing will always appeal to me, as does the P1 Superstock format.
The limited variables mean there’s no excuses, same boats, same propellers, we just have to do the best job as a team to be successful.
This year the P1 Panther boats will look very different.
The new Panther 28R is a canopied boat, constructed wholly of carbon fibre using the latest methods by Wilson Custom Composites in Florida. Powered by Mercury Racing’s impressive new 4.6L V8 four-stoke 300R outboard, the combination of a lighter boat and cutting edge engine technology will mean they will now be racing at speeds of over 80 mph.
Sam and Daisy will be donning new colours in an exciting new partnership as they join the highly successful Miss GEICO Race Team.
The pair will be running the 3rd craft in the Miss GEICO Team alongside their famous Superboat and Jetski crews.
Since its inception in 2005 Miss GEICO has won 11 World Titles, has over 100 individual race wins and holds numerous world speed records.
In addition to competing for its 12th World Title, Miss GEICO participates in 20 National Boat Shows, 3 National Air Shows competing against the GEICO Skytypers, 5 Nationally televised P1 Powerboat Races and 10 AquaX jet ski races.
Miss GEICO also engages in numerous charitable events assisting United We Race, Inc. with their own charity that distributes 100% of the proceeds to United States Veterans.
Given that Daisy was only introduced to the sport in 2012 after being injured in Afghanistan, leading to her medical discharge it seems a fitting match for the Welsh pairing:
With the GEICO race team we’re thrilled to be working with some of the most successful people in offshore racing, we love a challenge and we enjoy learning new skills, so we’re in a great place and looking forward to getting to work in the new boat.
The Colemans make their USA racing debut in May. The five round P1 Championship will take place around Florida starting in Kissimmee, St. Cloud, on 11th May, Cocoa Beach 18/19th May, St. Pete Beach 15/16th June, Sarasota 6/7th July and culminating in Clearwater 28/29th September.