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Sail-World.com : Fabrizio Bocca announces his retirement

Fabrizio Bocca announces his retirement

'Marit Stromoy - is a three time European Champion and two times Nordic Champ in the S-550 class. She made her debut in F1 at last years Grand Prix of Qatar' U.I.M. F1 World Championship ©

In what was strongly rumored to be a possibility, became reality today when 1992 World Champion Fabrizio Bocca of Casalle, Italy announced his retirement as a driver immediately and will take over as owner/manager of the Rainbow Racing Team just one week before the start of the U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating at the 5th annual Grand Prix of Qatar on the 28th and 29th of March.

The 49 year-old pilot who was the second most active driver on the tour with 145 career starts began racing back in the 1970's and joined the U.I.M. F1 tour back in the early 1980's. He had two career victories including the 1992 South African Grand Prix during his World Championship season, followed by his last win at the Grand Prix of France in Chalon in 1993. In his final season in F1 Fabrizio finished 12th in the driver's championship with 15 points and six top-ten finishes.

Fabrizio has teamed up with many famous drivers including being credited with giving four-time World Champion Scott Gillman the door he needed to join the tour as his teammate in 1997. They stayed together until Scott joined the Emirates Team which he now manages just before 2000.

The door of opportunity now opens up for exciting newcomer Marit Stromoy of Norway who comes over full time as the first women back into the sport in over two decades. The young driver who now makes her home in Copenhagen where she is an entertainer, started racing back in 1989. She is a three time European Champion and two times Nordic Champ in the S-550 class. She made her debut in F1 at last years Grand Prix of Qatar and scored points in the final round at the Grand Prix of Sharjah where she picked up a quality 8th place finish.

The 'Rainbow Girl' will make her appearance next week along with teammate Valerio Lagiannella who will be starting his tenth race in his fourth season in F1 racing as the Italian looks at 2008 as his first real opportunity to impress running the full season.

'Everything must come to an end and I am excited to have finally made this decision and at the same time give Marit the opportunity she deserves,' said Fabrizio. 'Now my new career starts and I will relish this challenge like my past racing experiences have brought me.'

The changing face of U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating turns another page with Bocca's retirement, but also brings on a new chapter with new drivers and new defending champions ready to make 2008 a season to remember. It all begins this upcoming weekend at the Grand Prix of Qatar along the corniche in downtown Doha on the 28th and 29th of March.

The U.I.M. F1 power boat series is bringing the most skilled persons on water with 24 different pilots from four different continents steering their craft at 225 kilometers per hour in their quest for a world title. This is something that shouldn't be missed.

http://www.f1boat.com

by Steve Michael Reporting 12:03 PM Sun 23 Mar 2008 GMT

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