The XCAT World Championship is back to Italy: in July the circus will be in Stresa, on Lake Maggiore

With the work from UIM and FIM, the World and Italian powerboating federations, the UIM XCAT World Championship will be back in Stresa in the weekend 6-8 July, in the same location where they raced in 2013 and 2014.

The last time it was in 2014: the XCAT catamarans raced on Lake Maggiore, by the beautiful Borromean Islands, in an exciting race that saw the victory of Fazza’s team from the UAE. But we also remember two races in 2013, one in Stresa and one in Arona, with spectacular flipovers, restarts, and an all-Italian victory (with Matteo Nicolini and Tomaso Polli) that ended with an exciting podium and tens of thousands of spectators to sing the Italian anthem. Not to mention when they raced in Naples in 2014, with the presence of Diego Maradona as testimonial (watch him pilot an XCAT from the cockpit camera), in an event that ended up in the limelight for the enthusiastic participation of the city.

Ready for a full three-day event

All of this, to remind that the XCAT World Championship has a strong connection with Italy, made not only of the support and passion of the public, but also of the presence of teams and drivers who run with the Italian flag. And now, with an announcement from the Mayor of Stresa Giuseppe Bottini on one side, and the XCAT organizers on the other, it’s been made official that on 6-7-8 July 2018 the CATS will run on the waters in front of Stresa, in one of the most suggestive locations that a powerboat race can offer.

Of course, the support of the FIM (Italian powerboating federation) will be important to provide Stresa – and the Country – with an event worthy of the previous ones: above all, regarding the contribution of the Italian federation, in terms of safety of the event, compliance with regulations, and collateral initiatives.


So the appointment will be for the weekend 6-8 July. According to the usual XCAT calendars, Friday will be dedicated to free practice, to find the right set-up of boats according to the type of circuit and weather conditions. On Saturday it will be time for the pole position session. But this year, as by the rules, there are two races for each event, so Saturday 7 July we will see Race 1. On Sunday, another free practice session and then Race 2, with the starting order given by the arrival of the competition the day before.

Pasquale Sesana, XCAT Operations Director, and Giuseppe Bottini, Mayor of Stresa

As mentioned, with the support of FIM, UIM (which is not only the world federation but also the promoter of the Championship) and the local organizers, there will be a rich calendar of events and side initiatives to enrich the three days and entertain the public that, as said, it has always been very numerous and this year is estimated in the order of tens of thousands of spectators.

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