Sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) and promoted by Powerboat P1, Class 1 is the premier class of offshore powerboat racing and considered to be one of the most spectacular marine motorsports with race boats reaching speeds in excess of 160mph.

Known for its sponsorship and support for athletes, sports events and teams, Monster Energy had its first encounter with offshore powerboat racing last year when its motorsports athletes Kurt Busch from NASCAR, Ryan Villopoto from Supercross and Brian Deegan from the action sports world competed in the Travis Pastrana P1 Offshore Invitational at St. Petersburg.

We love racing, power and larger than life opportunities here at Monster Energy and we were immediately captivated by what we all saw,

says Dave Gowland, Monster Energy Vice President of Motorsports. “We’re always all-in here at Monster and we’re enthused to sponsor M CON in the Class 1 race series.”

Based in Kansas, the M CON Racing team of Tyler Miller and Myrick Coil will compete in a fully branded Monster Energy boat. This new, purpose-built, canopied Skater 438 catamaran powered by dual 1100 horsepower Mercury Racing engines will be the first Class 1 boat completely built to meet the current UIM safety and construction standards. Team owner and throttleman Miller explains:

We decided earlier this year to take the next leap in the sport by joining Class 1 in 2023 because of our pure passion to race in the premier class. We hope to be on the water with our new Skater by early April for testing at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri and our aim is quite simply to get on the podium as often as possible next season. It’s a big deal for us and for offshore racing that Monster Energy is coming onboard and we want to put on a great show for the fans and our new sponsor.

Based in Kansas and currently focused on defending their APBA Super Cat national title, the M CON team of Tyler Miller and Myrick Coil will be competing next year in a canopied Skater 438 catamaran powered by Mercury Racing 1100 Competition engines and transmission package.

Team owner and throttleman Miller explained,

We decided earlier this year to race Class 1 in 2023 to continue to elevate our racing program and because of our pure passion to race offshore powerboats in the premier class. Our decision to run Skater Powerboats was based on the long-standing pedigree of safe and competitive masterpieces Peter Hledin has created for many years, together with the success M CON Racing has had to date in powerboats built by Skater.

The new, purpose-built Class 1 boat will be a Skater 438, equipped with the strongest cockpit canopy ever built by the company, surface drives and rudder steering. Miller anticipates the boat being completed at Michigan-based Skater by early March and, under the supervision of driver Myrick Coil, it will then move to Performance Boat Centre in Missouri for rigging. All initial testing will be carried out on the team’s home waters at Lake of The Ozarks. The M CON plan is to become a two-boat team next year by continuing to race their Skater Powerboats 388 catamaran in the Super Cat class.

Skater Powerboats founder and owner Peter Hledin, who for more than forty years has been the industry leader setting the pace by continually bringing innovation and advanced designs to the market, is excited to be building the new boat

The first 438 we built was dubbed Rockette, powered by twin Mercury Racing dual-calibration 1550/1350 engines, and now we have the first race version built for the Class 1 series. I think it will do extremely well and I’m really glad this is happening for Tyler. He’s a great gentleman and a loyal customer.

Hledin has built two race boats and a pleasure boat for Miller, making the new 43-footer Miller’s third Skater powerboat, and he sees this as an opportunity to build the Class 1 series and get people excited.

Powerboat P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwala commented

M CON Racing is one of the most professionally run teams in offshore racing and this is an exciting decision by the current Super Cat national champions. They are always looking to break new ground in promoting and marketing the team, with Tyler and Lindsey bringing to the sport the outstanding energy and skills they demonstrate in running their successful M CON company. This significant development is testament to our ambition to return the UIM Class 1 championship to the pinnacle of powerboat racing. Peter Hledin is the ultimate craftsman so I expect this combination to really make a mark in the Class 1 series next year.

Huski Racing throttleman Steve Curtis said

I will be really excited to go head-to-head with Tyler. His record speaks for itself, so you know he’s going to be extremely fast. He also has the full backing of Skater Powerboats with his new boat. It’s great for Class 1 as we want the best of the best from around the world to compete against.

Images supplied by Powerboat P1

In an exclusive interview with PRW Rankin shared his plans for the UIM Class 1 World Championships and announced that following a successful meeting with The Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism & Transport of the Cayman Islands they are all set to host a round of the World Championship in September 2023 based at the world famous Seven Mile Beach corridor.

As a kid I lived my dreams through the pages of books at the book stand in the supermarket. Now I am at the heels of one of my dreams and in full control of its reality representing the Cayman Islands at one of the largest offshore power boat racing events in the world with some of the fastest boats on the planet.

Rankin’s love with powerboat racing came about through his friendship with Andreas Ove Ugland, the 64-year-old Norwegian shipping magnate and investment banker whose offshore racing exploits won him both the Beaverbrook and Needles trophies in a phenomenally successful career.

When Ugland retired from international racing he brought that passion to Cayman when he founded the ‘Million Dollar Poker Run,’ an event that Rankin actually won the last time it took place. Two years ago, Ugland died after a short illness, two days before his 65th birthday.

Although an extremely rich man, worth hundreds of millions, he contributed immensely to local charities and worthy causes. He was a patron of various charities and institutions in Cayman, including the National Gallery. He was also well renowned as a classic car collector, and creator of the Cayman Motor Museum in West Bay. Outside the museum sits a Buzzi built Pro Vee hull that was raced by Christian Zaborowski.

Just recently Uglands wife Natalie introduced Rankin to the Zabo Racing Team owner Jan Zaborowski, Christian’s father, who was looking sell his team along with the ex-Fazza boat from Dubai’s Victory Team that had been running in the colours of Zabo Racing.

Rankin together with Jason Butcher purchased the team. Butcher did not hesitate at the opportunity to invest in a boat racing team that would allow him the opportunity of placing the Cayman Islands on the sports tourism stage. Rankin spoke about future plans that they have for the team.

We chose to call the new team 345 Racing as it’s a cornerstone brand in the Cayman and for the 2023 season it will become a two-boat team competing at the world championships. We are now planning to train local drivers to race the boat. I have spoken to our driver Miles Jennings, and he has agreed to help teach them and literally get them up to speed.

When Powerboat P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwala spoke about the prospect of racing in the Cayman Islands he said,

The opportunity to race internationally is extremely attractive to Powerboat P1. The heritage of UIM Class 1 is truly global and it has always been our intention to look further afield whilst maintaining a strong presence in the USA.

Round Two of the 2022 UIM Class 1 Offshore World Championships takes place at the P1 Offshore Sarasota Grand Prix over the July 4 weekend celebrations.

Although the water at Sarasota looks calmer, there are often holes, or variations on the seabed, which create voids on the surface. These can cause unexpected flights or hits, so are difficult for drivers to anticipate. Compared to Cocoa Beach, Sarasota is a more technical course.

Cocoa Beach was long and narrow, running up and down the beach, with two 180 degree turns. Whilst Sarasota will have varying degrees of right turns and a leftward dogleg on the backward stretch.

The event, presented by Visit Sarasota County, will kick off on Friday 1 July with the traditional downtown block party giving fans the opportunity to meet the teams and see the boats up-close on Gulfstream Avenue from 6:00-10:00pm (local time). Attendees can enjoy live music and drinks and interact with the drivers in front of their race boats.

Virginia J. Haley, President of Visit Sarasota County said,

Sarasota is the second longest-running US powerboat race and for decades, the races have been a unique summer event that appeals to both locals and visitors. We recognise and thank the Powerboat P1 team for the thorough planning alongside multiple Sarasota entities, ranging from environmental groups to law enforcement, to make this event safe and enjoyable for all.

Racing will begin at Lido Beach on Saturday 2 July with P1 AquaX personal watercraft racing at 8:00am, followed by P1 Offshore powerboat testing from 10:30am-1:30pm. P1 AquaX will stage its second race before the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship teams compete for Pole position from 3:30-4:30pm (local time).

When Cole McGowan, Powerboat P1’s Director of Communications spoke to PRW he recognised that Sarasota’s longest running event generates millions of dollars in economic impact for the community annually.

As a Sarasota native, I realise the historic value this event brings to the community. We value the heritage and prestige of this event and are aiming to add new experiences for fans. This is going to be a standout year for powerboat racing in Sarasota with one of the largest fleets of race boats in recent years. I’m excited for fellow locals to experience everything that the Grand Prix weekend has to offer.

Sunday will feature a full day of racing with P1 AquaX, P1 Offshore and the high-speed Class 1 boats all in action. There will be a new P1 Village fan zone at the Lido Beach along with P1’s VIP hospitality suite, offering a catered lunch, open bar, lounge seating and televisions to enhance the race viewing experience.

Azam Rangoonwala, CEO of Powerboat P1 added

Sarasota is our biggest race of the year and we’re thrilled to be returning with Visit Sarasota County as our presenting partner. We have a powerful platform through our international television broadcasting to highlight this beautiful quintessential white-sand beach getaway to the world, and we want to encourage everyone to experience it.