XCAT gears up for sizzling 2016 season

28 January 2016, Dubai – Fresh, new venues and exciting locations are on the cards for this year’s UIM XCAT World Powerboat Series with the 2016 calendar announced today.

The stunning glacial Lake Lugano will play host to one of the seven rounds in the season ahead while XCAT action will also visit two Asian venues in the coming year.

The XCAT World Series truly is a spectacle of speed, with teams of two taking each other on in two-engined carbon-fibre boats that tear around the course at speeds close to 200km per hour.

Last year saw XCAT racing visiting both Portugal and Australia for the first time, with the Gold Coast event in August attracting a record number of television viewers in over 750 million households.

Hot on the heels of last year’s success, the 2016 XCAT season will kick off in the Gulf of Oman in the UAE city of Fujairah from 7-8 April before heading cross-country to Dubai for Round 2 the following weekend, from 15-16 April.

The festival of speed then heads to the breathtaking background of Switzerland for Round 3 in Lugano from 4-5 June before heading to Asia in September and October.

Details of the Asian venues will be announced at a later date but the races are scheduled for 24-25 September and 8-9 October.

The UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, will then welcome back to competing teams as they tackle the penultimate round of the Series from 17-18 November with the grand finale scheduled for Dubai from 2-3 December.

“It is with great excitement and anticipation that we are announcing the XCAT calendar for 2016. What a fabulous year we have to look forward to,” said HE Dr Saif Al Ketbi, President of the WPPA – organisers and promoters of the Series.

“With several new host cities – and countries – to visit it promises to be a truly extraordinary season. We look forward to welcoming all XCAT fans to enjoy the racing at these venues or to catch every minute of the amazing action live on TV as millions across the world are caught up in the excitement,” added Al Ketbi.

2016 XCAT Calendar

Round 1: 7-8 April – Fujairah, UAE

Round 2: 15-16 April – Dubai, UAE

Round 3: 4-5 June – Lugano, Switzerland

Round 4: 24-25 September – Asia (venue to be announced)

Round 5: 8-9 October – Asia (venue to be announced)

Round 6: 17-18 November – Abu Dhabi, UAE

Final round: 2-3 December – Dubai, UAE