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Nearly four months since the opening round of the 2013 H1 Unlimited Championship graced the waters of Doha Bay for the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship, racers are back in action at this weekend’s Big Wake Weekend on Folsom Lake, Granite Bay, California. |
Kip Brown replaced Dave Villwock at the helm of Spirit of Qatar 95 for that race – where Jimmy Shane collected his second Oryx Cup title – and Brown is back in action again in the Qatar boat, built and run by Ellstrom Racing. Kip currently lies fourth in the National High Points standings behind the experienced Lighthouse Point driver Steve David, Oryx Cup winner Shane and Jon Zimmerman in 9 Jones Racing.
The world’s fastest racing boats last appeared on Folsom Lake in 1966 and 1967 when the event ran as the Sacramento Cup. Names to grace the entry list in those days included Warner Gardner, Jim Ranger, Billy Schumacher and the legendary Bill Muncey. Officials at H1 Unlimited are delighted to return to the Sacramento venue at the base of the Sierra foothills.
With support from the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), Brown is confident that he can push for the podium in an event where all the regular entrants are likely to race.
The Big Wake Weekend should also see the return of 22 Webster Racing. This boat has been completely rebuilt in Pennsylvania following its crash at the Detroit APBA Gold Cup last July.
“I believe that Kip will run as hard as he can to get the boat to perform well and with Ellstrom Racing at his side they will work to get the boat as fast and competitive as possible,” said HE Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani, president of the QMSF. “I do think that Ellstrom Racing have made the right driver selection and I hope to see Kip on the podium.”