Powerboat P1 Championship

The Chaudron Saga - From 'Wicked Valletta' to 'Ukrainian Spirit'. By Wilfred Sultana

The Chaudron story in P1 is this year seven years old - it was a modest start in 2004 while both as boat builders and as crew the Ciantar family observed, integrated and discovered. "Wicked Valletta" was their first racer in the SuperSport category of the Powerboat P1 Championship. Initially Chaudron Powerboats on a 10-metre Chaudron 33 shied away from making the winners' podium yet their participation was being followed, studied and assessed and eventually in season 2007 came a significant breakthrough - Italian racing aficionado Angelo Tedeschi, nicknamed 'The President' commissioned the local boat-builders to build a 13-metre for the 2007 season. Furthermore the Italian owner insisted that Aaron would team up with him as driver, a crucial offer, where the only regret was the relinquishing of the brother-and-sister team. Yet Audrienne Ciantar's presence on the P1 circuit was not to be terminated but temporary withheld.

One must remark that the 2005 championship was a rewarding experience to the Maltese participants as "46 ESI Chaudron" gained third place overall in SuperSport, a championship contested by seven boats. Furthermore, the locals won two of the six Personality Awards, namely, Sportsperson of the Season, won by Charles Ciantar, and Rookie of the Year which went to Aaron. In 2006 Aaron and Audrienne, raced the striking ‘The Casino at Portomaso' 10-metre yellow boat.

This Italian-Maltese partnership was a big success - The Chaudron built "Roscioli Hotels Roma" won the SuperSport category for both the 2007 and 2008 seasons. This competitive achievement further strengthened the standing of the Maltese brand on the international scene to the tune that a Ukrainian powerboat enthusiast, Victor Shemchuk, approached Chaudron with a business proposal - he would order a Chaudron powerboat to contest the P1 Worlds on condition that Aaron would join his Ukrainian team as driver.

Mr. Shemchuk did eventually order a Chaudron 13-metre powerboat on the agreement that Aaron together with Angelo Tedeschi, the 2007 and 2008 winning duo, join and race for the Ukrainian team. In the agreed arrangement, the owner, Victor Shemchuk, was to be the team's navigator, a role which, on some occasions, he handed over to the fourth member of the squad Oleksiy Chendekov.

The business-sport scheme of Victor Shemchuk paid dividends as this winning team raced "Seagull Chaudron" to conquer a highly contested 2009 SuperSport Championship, establishing unique records in the process - Shemchuk became the first Ukraine national to win a P1 championship on his first attempt; Tedeschi made it a hat-trick of consecutive championships; Aaron Ciantar, as a driver, made it a double with a follow-up victory to that of 2008; and boat builders Chaudron made it an extraordinary hat-trick of wins as constructors, a prestigious credential which reflects the respect and credibility the Maltese boat-builders enjoy even at international level.

Season 2009 also saw the first ever all-female team on the P1 circuit. This was made up of Shelley Jory (driver) and Audrienne Ciantar (throttle). The ‘girls' raced Tedeschi's 2007 Chaudron winner, renamed "Iko Casa" and finished fifth in the overall standings.

Since their baptism-of-fire in the P1 World Championship in 2004 there has been a cycle of five Chaudron boats on the circuit - The first one was "Wicked Valletta", a 10-metre (33ft) with twin outboards 250hp each, then another 10-metre with twin inboards of 500hp, the third was a 13-metre (41ft) with twin inboards of 525hp, then came another 13-metre with twin inboard engines of 570hp and the current one ‘Ukrainian Spirit', a 13-metre with a twin inboard 750hp. The first four boats raced in the SuperSport Class with the current one experiencing the Evolution Class.

The 2010 P1 season presents new daring adventures yet endowed with experience and success, the Ukrainian-Maltese partnership of ‘owner/builders/crew', faces the oncoming challenges with confidence and determination: ‘Ukrainian Spirit', another Chaudron built new boat, with an Ukrainian-Maltese (Victor Shemchuk and Aaron Ciantar) crew, and an innovative competing test in the Evolution Class - a year to look forward too!.

Yet on the 7-8 of May, the first outing of the P1 season at the Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea, following a few thrilling moments misfortune struck!

"We started at the 7th place but by the 4th lap we were leading the fleet, a position we held for five laps. Then half a lap before the finish line the engines blew", related Aaon Ciantar.

A great disappointment indeed having to face repeat break-downs - apparently three engines blew up over a number of days - on the first real tough testing opportunity for a new boat. Yet the problem has been identified and referred to the engines manufacturers where it has been recognised as a ‘factory problem'. As a result of this ‘Ukrainian Spirit' will be having new engines of a different brand for the next racing meeting.

Irrespective of the Yalta failure is the Ukrainian-Maltese team still confident that ‘Ukrainian Spirit' will leave its mark on the 2010 Evolution Class Championship?

"Well, both Victor and I believe we have a powerful boat and if everything goes as planned we should have a rewarding season. Yalta was our first experience in the Evolution Class Championship and except for the engines failure it was a positive performance which left a good impression well recognised by all the other drivers", stated Aaron.

But besides the closed canopy what makes the Evolution and SuperSport Classes different?

"Power - in the Evolution Class there is no speed limit, obviously giving way to much more powerful racing and extra fun", remarked Aaron, the Maltese driver/boat builder.

So the Chaudron Saga in world class powerboat racing goes on living new experiences, facing new challenges which record have shown could easily turn into opportunities.

Caption to photograph:
‘Ukrainian Spirit' pushing forward to take the lead at the Yalta Grand Prix of the Sea! (Photography: powerboatracing.be)

Wilfred Sultana & Associates Co. Limited