Bali to host first F1 powerboat race

Bali to host first F1 powerboat race

JAKARTA: Indonesia will host its first Formula One
powerboating event later this year, an organizer said on
Thursday.

"The event will be held in Benoa, Bali on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.
There will be 18 participants and most of them are foreigners,"
spokesman of the event organizer, Akbar Faizal, told Antara

"So far we do not have any participants from Indonesia to
compete in this US$2 million event," he added.

Akbar said the participants included Italians Luigi Cappelini
and Fransesco Canado, Scott Human of the U.S., and Leg Verro of
Australia.

The Benoa event, under the auspices of the International
Motonautics Union (UIM), will be one of the 14 legs of the F1
Powerboat World Championship this year.

"Bali was appointed as a new venue because the license holder
for the Chinese event is an Indonesian, Steve Indrajaya. He wants
to bring his success story in China to Indonesia," said Akbar.

"We expect the event will bring thousands of visitors to Bali
to give life to the tourist industry." --JP