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