Dubai: With the 2015 UIM XCAT World Series drawing to a thrilling close with the final two races taking place in the UAE next month, thoughts are now turning to the 2016 season.
While the official calendar set to be announced in the next few weeks, it has been confirmed that several new and exciting venues are bidding to host events in 2016.
The XCAT World Series truly is a spectacle of speed, with teams of two each taking each other on in two-engined carbon-fibre boats that tear around the course at speeds close to 200km/h.
This year saw XCAT racing visiting both Portugal and Australia for the first time, with the Gold Coast event in August attracting record television viewers in over 720 million households. Potential new venues have now witnessed the benefits of hosting the festival of speed and are eager to get on board for the new season.
Both the UK and Ireland have expressed interest in being a part of the 2016 series while the Swiss too have put up their hand to host a leg of what is being dubbed “the greatest motorsport series on water”.
A return to Australia is also on the cards in 2016, with the Gold Coast eager to welcome back the exhilarating event as part of their three-year agreement with the XCAT Series.
“We will be announcing the official calendar for 2016 next month but what I can say is that we are looking forward to what promises to be the greatest season XCAT has experienced to date,” said Ronan Morgan, CEO, World Professional Powerboating Association (WPPA), the organisers and promoters of the series.
“The rocketing television figures are testament to the extraordinary growth we have experienced as a series this year and we are looking forward to even bigger and better things next year as we take XCAT action to several new host venues around the world,” he added.
Meanwhile, the fifth round will be held in Dubai from November 19-21 while Abu Dhabi will host the grand finale a week later from November 25-27.
