Promoters, Officials & Federations: The Backbone of Powerboat Racing – And Why They Deserve Our Support

 

The world of powerboat racing is fueled by passion, talent, and horsepower. But while the drivers and teams often receive the glory, there’s another group that rarely sees the spotlight — the promoters, the officials, and the federations behind the scenes. These are the people who put in the hard yards to bring us championship races, maintain international calendars, and keep this sport alive year after year. And right now, they need our support more than ever.

From Europe to the Middle East and across the Atlantic to the U.S., organizing a race is a massive undertaking — financially, logistically, and politically. The recent cancellation of the UIM F4 season-opener in Augustów, Poland is just one of several reminders that even promising events can fall apart at the last minute. The reason? Simple: lack of funding. No money, no race.

And when a race disappears, it’s not just a line on a calendar. It affects drivers, sponsors, fans, and teams, often leaving thousands of euros in unrecoverable losses for each. The fallout is real — and growing.

So before we, as a sport, jump to criticism, we need to ask a fair question:

Are we doing enough to support those who are doing the heavy lifting?

One promoter who has been doing that for decades is Nicolo di San Germano, the force behind the UIM F1H2O World Championship. Since 1984, he’s built a global powerhouse — a championship with 20 of the world’s best drivers from 12 nations, racing across 10 teams. It’s fast, dangerous, unpredictable — and yes, still standing when many others are struggling.

With H2O Racing, his team produces the only powerboat World Championship broadcast live around the world, and has added a youth development program to ensure the next generation of racers has a platform. That matters.

But even someone like Nicolo isn’t immune to the challenges. Building a calendar is getting harder. Securing host cities, sponsors, and government backing isn’t what it used to be. As the global economy squeezes every sector, sports like ours — niche, technical, and often misunderstood — find themselves fighting for relevance and support.

Tim Seebold, a former champion and now a major U.S. promoter, knows this struggle firsthand:

“I went from being a driver to being a promoter after I stopped racing. In my opinion, it’s harder to put races on than to race them. We’re often criticized by media and fans when races fall apart or when the calendar isn’t good enough. But instead of complaining, support us — and if you think you can do it, go out and put on a race. Only then will you understand how difficult it is.”

“We have a full calendar for 2025, and 2026 looks promising. But I can assure you, as a colleague, the UIM F1 series is working harder than ever to expand beyond their current five races — and I wish them good luck.”

But let’s be clear — it’s not only the promoters who carry the weight. Every event that goes live is the result of a joint effort. Race officials, working tirelessly and often voluntarily. National and international federations, navigating regulations, lobbying for funding, and keeping the sport aligned. Together with the promoters, they make the difference.

This is the truth behind the curtain of powerboat racing. The sport needs visionaries, but it also needs collaboration, patience, and respect. If we want more races, more visibility, and more support — we must recognize and invest in all the people who make it happen.

Because without them, there is no race.