5:49 AM Tue 24 Mar 2009 GMT
 | | 'Hannes Bohinc (black jacket, in cockpit) and Giancarlo Cangiano talking with their mechanics after testing the boat on beautiful Lake Como.'
Martin Allerton
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Austrian Hannes Bohinc, one of the world's most decorated powerboat racers, will return to top flight racing this year when he teams with Italy's 2006 P1 World champion Giancarlo Cangiano.
The pair will make an all-out assault on the Powerboat P1 championship with the Italian OSG Racing Team.
It rates as an intriguing partnership for two power boating heavyweights, the last of the 'gentlemen racers' and both with a steely determination to win.
Bohinc, 49, the 2005 Powerboat P1 World champion, last raced in 2007 while Cangiano, the 2006 titleholder has followed up with a second place (2007) and a third (2008) in subsequent championships.
The two men will race SNAV OSG, the US-built Outerlimits SV-43, powered by dual MerCruiser 9.1-litre supercharged V8 engines, capable of generating in excess of 1500 horsepower.
'We recently tested the boat on Lake Como (Italy) and I was very impressed with the engine/boat combination, especially the responsiveness and acceleration out of turns,' Bohinc explained.
Bohinc's previous racing over more than 20-years had been exclusively diesel-powered.
'I am happy to be joining the OSG Team,' he said. 'Giancarlo is a gentleman and an accomplished power boat racer. 'He does things the right way with passion and excellence and I look forward to a very exciting season,' he added.
Following his success in the 2008 Round Britain race, and with his appetite for endurance racing rekindled, Bohinc originally decided to campaign his own boat, 'Wettpunkt.com' in the English classic events until speaking with Cangiano earlier tis year.
'Giancarlo knew I was preparing to go racing, he told me he needed ballast on one side of the boat to keep it flat in the water,' Bohinc said. 'It was the invitation of a gentleman and I said yes.'
 | Giancarlo Cangiano (left) and Hannes Bohinc discuss their recent boat test. That’s the picturesque Lake Como in the background. - Martin Allerton Click Here to view large photo |
The Naples-based OSG Racing Team is respected throughout the European power boat racing scene and the involvement of the experienced Bohinc is certain to provide further impetus on and off the water.
'It will be a very tough and competitive season,' Cangiano, team owner and throttleman confirmed.
'However, we both know what it takes to win at this level and we're delighted to be co-pilots after competing against each other for so many years.
'The first race can't come quickly enough,' he declared.
Powerboat P1 action comprises 10 races over five events; it begins in Valetta, Malta, on May 9-10.
by Martin Allerton
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