ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Tuesday, July 27, 2010 – The UIM F1 H2O World Championship for powerboating has it's second “Lap of Honor” recipients for 2010. Fred Hauenstein, a tireless ambassador and true builder of the sport for almost 50 years, along with four time World Champion Scott Gillman, winner of 23 races in just 89 starts, have been elected into the UIM F1 H2O Hall Of Fame for 2010 after a three month long voting process involving race fans and journalists throughout the world taking part in the decision making.

Fred, who has worked in all levels of powerboat racing as an innovative engineer, respected UIM and APBA officer who specializes in engine development and safety improvements in the sport, is still  enjoying racing, this being, his 51st season in 2010. Fred, first drove and then helped build OMC factory engines in the early 1970's before switching to Mercury Marine and helping develop the famous T-3 and T-4 power plants. Later, he worked on development of engines for both offshore and unlimited hydroplane racing classes.

Recently, the man who makes his home in the state of Wisconsin in the USA, has been at the forefront in the conversion to low emission outboard racing engines that has dominated at the 24 Hours of Rouen with the F2 and F4 (S) classes. Fred's political career includes four years as APBA President; President of the UIM Sports Commission and continual membership in both the APBA and UIM Safety Committees.

“It's a great thrill for me to be voted in by both the members of the boating media together with the race fans around the world,” said Fred. “I look forward to accepting the award and seeing once again all my friends who make up the UIM F1 H2O World Championship including its fine promoter and my friend Nicolo di San Germano.”

For the other American Scott Gillman, his rise came quickly after stepping onto the scene his rookie season in 1997. He was no stranger to winning after winning three North American tour titles in 1990, 1995 & 1996. He won his first title with the same SEEBOLD boat hull he had used the two previous years in North America. He also came close to winning a pair of other titles in his ten plus years on the UIM F1 H2O tour.

Scott's most remarkable record, is one that maybe never duplicated, finishing on the podium in 55 of the 59 events he finished for a 92% ratio. Not even 10-time World Champion Guido Cappellini's marks come close to this remarkable statistic while both were bitter rivals in their ten years battling for championship titles.

“It's wonderful that I've been acknowledged by the race fans and media for everything I have done while racing on the UIM F1 World Championship tour for Nicolo,” said Scott. “My working with the great people at Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club just shows the dedication everyone has for the sport for the past decade and the difficulty it is to get it all just right and win titles. It's never easy and it takes great dedication and I feel the people I am now working with are in that mindset to get it done again since the last time I achieved it for the club back in 2006.”

Fred Hauenstein had the largest percentage of votes with 46.8% while Scott Gillman wasn't far behind with 32.2%. They will now join last years winner's Bill Seebold and Renato Molinari into this very exclusive club while three new names along with the late Cees van der Velden will be added for next years 2011 class.

Both Fred Hauenstein and Scott Gillman will be honored at the season ending ceremonies in the United Arab Emirates in early December during the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi on the third and fourth of December and the Grand Prix of Sharjah on the ninth and 10th of December.

Story by: Steve “the Voice” Michael    www.f1h20.com

BAY CITY, MI:

Story by Cory Butzin, The Bay City Times (mlive.com)

Broken boats, beat up drivers, and Chris Fairchild wouldn’t have any other way.

Fairchild overcame a choppy Saginaw River and tough competitors to cruise by the field in the Dow Bay City River Roar and take the checkered flag for his first Formula One win in Bay City.

“I’m feeling really good right now,” he said. “The boat handled good, and I had a good crew... It just doesn’t get any better.”

A thunderstorm kept the River Roar's main event on hold for two hours, but the Coast Guard gave officials the all-clear and the Formula One began at 4:22 p.m.

Fairchild had a pair of Formula Two titles to his credit, but wasn’t able to get over the hump until capitalizing on today’s rough conditions to beat out former champions like Shaun Torrente, Tim Seebold, and Terry Rinker.

“The right guy won,” Torrente said. “He did a hell of a job.”

Torrente took the pole position heading into the Formula One 50-lap final after taking first and third in Saturday’s qualifying heats, and kept that speed in the early laps of the final with Seebold nipping at his heels.

“I kind of pulled Shaun (Torrente) in on the first turn,” Seebold said. “And kind of pulled him in coming back, and I was thinking ‘Man, we’re gonna be good. Every lap will be a battle, and we’ll just see what happens.’ The longer we went, (the boat) just didn’t quite run like it did in the beginning.”

The rough waters ended up taking a toll on the defending Formula One champion and sent Seebold to the pits early when a connecting rod broke.

But by that time Fairchild had made his move.

Torrente had the lead for much of the race, but with Fairchild hot on his tail Torrente turned it on heading into turn No. 3 and ended up spinning out, which allowed Fairchild to take a lead he would not relinquish.

“I saw Chris was coming in so I started pushing hard, and made a big mistake,” Torrente said. “But (Fairchild) was the best one running out there.”

“He jacked his motor up to go faster, and it spun out sideways and blew out on him,” Fairchild said. “That was my way in. We drag-raced down to the corner, but I didn’t give him an inch. It was a little rude of me, but it was a win.”