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West Country team-up in the US

Chris Davies on 14th February 2019

Tom Montgomery-Swan and Nigel Hook just announced a merger between their two offshore powerboat teams, SUNUS Ocean Racing and SilverHook Racing.

The main focus for this newly formed partnership, SUNUS HOOK Racing, will be on UIM World Endurance Records and Guinness World Records.

Montgomery-Swan and Hook’s first event together as SUNUS HOOK Racing has been confirmed as the 2019 Ocean Cup, staged by Powerboat P1: the event will see boats make a two-way crossing of the Straits of Florida from West Palm Beach to Freeport in the Bahamas.

Sanctioned by the APBA and scheduled for early June, the total time for the 200-mile round trip will determine the fastest speed to re-establish the record.

SUNUS Ocean Racing’s owner, Tom Montgomery-Swan has joined the 77 Lucas Oil roster alongside pilots Jay Johnson and Michael Silfverberg, making the 30-year-old the youngest driver at this level of marine motorsport.

The 77 Lucas Oil race boat is an Ocke Mannerfelt designed SilverHook 48GP mono-hull. Powered by twin Mercury 1350HP engines and with speeds clocked in excess of 150mph in current trim, making it one of the world’s fastest mono-hull race boats.

About the SUNUS HOOK Racing alliance, Tom commented:

I am super excited to partner with Nigel as we take both our racing teams to the next level. On a personal note, racing in America, at this level is a superb opportunity, one from which I hope to absorb as much information and give it my all.

It’s great news also to have the continued support of my technical partners; amongst others, EP Barrus, Mercury Racing, Simrad and Helly Hansen who are all supporting the new venture…the team that race as 77 Lucas Oil SilverHook are superb and incredibly professional, I can’t wait to get started!

Hook agrees, adding:

The 2019 season is shaping up! Not only will we be campaigning the 77 Lucas Oil boat in the new APBA National series, Tom and I will be going back to the roots of offshore with the Gateway Marathon and other events to be announced

Hook and Montgomery-Swan will be running their first test program this weekend, during the record-breaking powerboat’s first shakedown of the season. 

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