Official: CS Santosh And Gaurav Gill To Pilot In P1 Powerboat Championship

Winning on land clearly isn't enough for our homegrown motorsport heroes. As we've previously reported, CS Santosh and Gaurav Gill will make their Powerboat debut during the race weekend of March 3. Both have learned the ropes from seven-time World Champion and three-time world speed record holder, Neil Holmes, in the UK. 

Two-time APRC Champion Gaurav Gill said, “We are elated that Procam International and P1 Global are hosting the first Grand Prix of the Seas in our country and have created a global structure that is being seeded from Indian shores. We are even more delighted that the two of us have been chosen to champion Indian participation at this premier event. Rallying and Powerboat racing are both high-octane and highly skilled sports and I believe my experience with navigating in pressure situations will make me a strong contender on the weekend.”

On the other hand, the only Indian to finish the Dakar twice, C S Santosh had this to say: "I have challenged myself in the toughest race on land, the Dakar Rally, and have now been training hard to test the challenges of the open seas. I am excited on being given the opportunity to demonstrate my abilities in speed in this new competitive powerboat racing series and look forward to the prospect of racing with highly experienced pilots. I am glad that I am being trusted with an engine, a steering wheel and an instruction that says ‘Go Fast.’” 

Gill and CS will battle it out with five international teams to win India's first ever 'Gran Prix of the seas'. Both will be at the helm of the P1 Panther, a 250PS powerboat that can clock a cool 120kmph on water. Race action begins on March 4; get your cheering hats on!