All systems go as XCAT action resumes in stunning Stresa this weekend

The boats have arrived. The spectacular scene is set. And the teams are raring to get out on the water as the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Powerboat Series resumes after the summer break. A total of 13 teams will take to the beautiful Lake Maggiore for the fourth round of the Series. And with four more races still to come after this one, there’s still everything to play for. Still topping the table after the first three rounds is the Dubai-based Fazza boat, part of the super-successful Victory Team set-up. Arif Al Zaffain and Mohammed Al Marri will be hoping they’ll experience none of the technical difficulties that hit them in the last race in Dubai. That’s where the Westerlund Racing Team of Joakim Kumlin and Daniel Svenson took advantage of Fazza’s gear box problem to claim their first ever XCAT win. The Swedish pair will be going all out to repeat their third-round heroics when they take to the water in Stresa this weekend. There’s plenty of top-class competition to stand in their way, however. The new combination of Pal Virek Nilsen and Tom Barry-Cotter in the Dubai Duty Free Boat will also be keen to make their mark on the Series in their XCAT debut, while the team currently in second spot – Mouawad – will be hoping to climb a little further up the standings. Action begins with Official Practice on Saturday at 10am Italian time, followed by Pole Position at 2pm and the thrilling head-to-head Speed Cat Run at 5pm. Official Practice will take place once again at 11.30am on Sunday with the main event, the Italian Grand Prix getting underway at 3.30pm. “Everything is ready and everyone is so excited to get the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series going again after the summer break,” said General Secretary of the World Professional Powerboating Association (WPPA) – organisers of the Series, Sid Bensalah. “What makes the race in Stresa this weekend even more exhilarating is that the Series is taking its first step outside of the UAE – an important move in its global expansion. “I have no doubt we will be treated to some spectacular racing action this weekend with all the teams eager for a good showing here on Lake Maggiore,” added Bensalah. “We also have a number of other activities taking place throughout the weekend, making the Italian Grand Prix a wonderful event for the whole family.”