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Offshore racing official calls for more professionalism in the sport
A top official from the International Offshore Team Association (IOTA) has voiced confidence in professionalism and credibility for a much better showing from the newly-formed World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA).
- By Alaric Gomes, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 June 8, 2007
Athens, Greece: A top official from the International Offshore Team Association (IOTA) has voiced confidence in professionalism and credibility for a much better showing from the newly-formed World Professional Powerboat Association (WPPA).
"We need to understand that the teams, the organisers and the rest of the people involved with racing are on the same side of the table," Marco Sala, General Secretary of IOTA told Gulf News yesterday.
Sala, a vital member of IOTA - joint promoters of the 2007 WPPA Class One World Powerboat Championship - is in Athens to oversee the successful running of the opening round this weekend.
"We needed a partner who would listen to us and the teams who are the most important ingredients in running a successful operation through the season," Sala remarked.
The Italian is one of the longest serving and experienced members in Class One racing today. He was there when the UIM decided to have a proper racing calendar from 1992 instead of the one-off championship held once a year in different continents.
"We have come a long way since then, but then we were finding that the UIM was more of a dictating member than a cooperative member," Sala noted.
"Hence we came up with the WPPA and I must say that we have kept all communication channels open from the time we launched the new body. And this I believe, is one of the major aspects for our success," he added.
As the world governing body for all watersport, the UIM has a history and thereby a much better credibility with events held under its umbrella. "But this does not concern us too much," Sala said.
The start seems have to been made already with new teams, new drivers and fresh impetus coming in this season. There are 11 teams taking part in the first round starting this weekend in Athens, and another boat is expected to join midway through the season.
As the world governing body for all watersport, the UIM has a history and thereby a much better credibility with events held under its umbrella.
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