Cigarette Smash Poker Kings of the Evolution class in Turkey

4:27 AM Mon 22 Jun 2009 GMT

'Cigarette The Fantastic 1 (Cigarette Smash Poker) driver Luca Formilli Fendi (ITA) and throttle Matteo Nicolini (ITA) racing at round 4 of this years P1 Powerboat World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.' onEdition &copy Click Here to view large photo

#10 Cigarette Smash Poker confirmed their reputation as the Kings of the Evolution Class in Turkey after storming their way to Endurance Race glory at the Turkish Grand Prix of the Sea on Sunday.

The Italian-team of Luca Formilli-Fendi and Matteo Nicolini showed outstanding pace and control on Istanbul's beautiful Bosphorus waterway - the breathtaking backdrop for a ferocious weekend's racing - by leading from start to finish of the 14-lap race.

After standing on top of the podium for the first time this season an elated Nicolini said: 'It was a perfect race. We had an excellent start. The boat started in the middle of the Bosphorus and we used the slightly shorter line to pressurise the Lucas Oil Outerlimits boat.

'We had much better acceleration today with a slightly better set-up. We need to improve the boat a little bit as Lucas Oil Outerlimits are still very strong, so we need to work on the boat to ensure we are competitive in San Benedetto del Tronto.'

Belgian-team #33 Furnibo narrowly missed out on celebrating a stunning 2009 Powerboat P1 debut by finishing just one-point behind the all-conquering Italians in the overall standings. Racing for the first time in the Fountain hull, Frank Hemelaer and Pierre Colpin continued their sequence of second-placed finishes.

New Powerboat P1 Evolution Class World Championship leaders, British-based outfit #44 Silverline were not too far behind in third place overall but most pleasing for Powerboat P1 fans was the triumphant return of Marco Pennesi and Max Ferrari in the #53 Metamarine Pignolo 53. The colourful Italian partners crossed Sunday's finishing line in third position but Saturday's pre-race retirement hampered any chance of overall Championship glory.

Evolution Classified Results:

1. #10 Cigarette Smash Poker (Luca Formilli Fendi / Matteo Nicolini) 00:54:47.75
2. #33 Furnibo (Frank Hemelaer / Pierre Colpin) 00:55:49.19
3. #53 Metamarine Pignolo 53 (Marco Pennesi / Max Ferrari) 00:57:40.25
4. #47 Silverline (Jan Falkowski / Drew Langdon) 00:55:49.85
5. #77 Lucas Oil Outerlimits (Joe Sgro / Nigel Hook / Mike Fiore) 00:55:53.70
6. #66 Cranefield Wines (Siegfried Greve / Gino Passchier) RETIRED
7. #88 SNAV OSG (Hannes Bohinc / Giovanni Carpitella) DID NOT START

Turkish Grand Prix of the Sea Evolution Championship Standings:

1. #10 Cigarette Smash Poker - 181
2. #33 Furnibo - 180
3. #47 Silverline - 150
4. #53 Metamarine Pignolo 53 - 120.5
5. #77 Lucas Oil Outerlimits - 100
6. #66 Cranefield Wines - 66
7. #88 SNAV OSG - 0

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