powerboat racing michigan city indiana

• March 22, 2024

XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix

31 jul All Day 04 aug XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix

Event Details

The award-winning 15th Annual XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix features many of the world’s fastest and most powerful offshore power boats racing along the southern shores of Lake Michigan. Throughout

The award-winning 15th Annual XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix features many of the world’s fastest and most powerful offshore power boats racing along the southern shores of Lake Michigan. Throughout this exciting free event, walk through Washington park and chat with racers, team members and owners which also appear in the boat parade and block party. All weekend long, enjoy live entertainment, family fun, food, drinks and Racing!

July 31 (Wednesday) - August 4 (Sunday)

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Marquette mall 4073 south franklin street michigan city, in 46360-7328.

• Mon-Fri 8:30AM - 4:30PM
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Great Lakes Grand Prix returns to Michigan City

The countdown is underway to the twelfth annual Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City this weekend (August 7-8) with a double bill of offshore powerboat racing and personal watercraft action.

The Grand Prix has become the city’s largest event and it returns to the delight of racers and fans alike. Jack Arnett, Executive Director of La Porte County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said: “After the enforced break last year, we are coming back bigger and better and have a full program of much-needed entertainment in store for everyone over the four days. There is a huge wave of anticipation and excitement going around our community. It is without doubt our marquee event and visitors to Washington Park will be able to enjoy food and drink from local vendors, a downtown boat parade and family fun.”

Celebrating its tenth season of personal watercraft racing, P1 AquaX made its first ever visit to Stone Lake in La Porte last weekend as part of the city’s inaugural LakeFest summer festival and the action now moves to southern shore of Lake Michigan. “The Great Lakes is one of the biggest markets for personal watercraft and outstanding locations and host venues contribute enormously to our event offering, with the focus on raising the profile of the venue, attracting visitors, encouraging local involvement and boosting the local economy,” explains P1 USA Championship Manager Michelle Petro. “Standing on the shore of Lake Michigan, the only Great Lake that sits entirely within the United States, it is hard to believe that you are looking at a lake and not an ocean,” adds Petro.

The decision to expand the Grand Prix in 2019 produced all-time records for both attendance and earnings, and Petro is expecting close on forty AquaX riders to be on the water this weekend together with the fleet of offshore powerboats. The warm reception from locals makes it a popular venue with the powerboat racers, as driver Myrick Coil enthused: “I always look forward to racing here – the people are great and what the local organisers have done to build activity around the racing is fantastic.” Coil, who sits top of the Super Stock standings with teammate Rusty Williams, added: “With our race class being such a close contest, we really want to have a good finish this weekend.

Lake Michigan can quickly produce big water conditions, posing a challenge to powerboat teams attempting to make crucial set-up decisions. On the unpredictable nature of the lake, Mod-V class points leader Boatfloater.com driver Stephen Kildahl explained: “The variability of the winds and water can make it difficult for us to manage our set-up and choose the right one. As we are leading the championship, consistency is the key factor for us – we need to keep doing what we’re doing.” With unpredictable conditions that can change so quickly, championship battles getting fiercer and some teams dealing with mid-season APBA rule changes due to the ban on tunnel-tabs, there is sure to be some exciting and dramatic action for spectators this weekend.

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Powerful offshore boats return for Grand Prix race, plus Taste of Michigan City

MICHIGAN CITY — Powerful high-speed boats will race across the Lake Michigan coastline here for the 12th annual Great Lakes Grand Prix  this weekend.  

They include the likes of a Class One division team, Miss GEICO, with a 47-foot catamaran weighing 1,750 pounds and with twin 1,100 horsepower engines that will be in the last race of the day Sunday. 

Some race teams will begin arriving on Thursday and more on Friday afternoon. AquaX races and powerboat testing will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT Saturday, with all classes of racing the same hours on Sunday. The race village will be open to the public Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Washington Park. A free shuttle will run from Ames Field, 2501 Franklin St. 

Meanwhile, the  Taste of Michigan City , hosted by the Michigan City Mainstreet Association, will run from 4 to 11 p.m. CDT Friday and from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday on North Franklin Street. It will feature a boat parade and block party from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. 

For details and a full schedule, including concerts, visit www.greatlakesgrandprix.com . 

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Racers, fire up your boat engines for the Great Lakes Grand Prix

by Lynnette Grant, WSBT 22 Reporter

More than 100-thousand beach-goers and race fans are converging on Michigan City right now.

The Great Lakes Grand Prix is back this weekend!

Boating is a popular activity here in Michigan City. What makes these boats different They are racing on Lake Michigan's waters!

If you’re planning to hit Washington Park Beach this weekend get ready for a lot of people and a lot of boats.

“But once they get in, they can expect to see international race teams out on the water going 150 to 200 mph. It’s NASCAR on the water,” said Jack Arnett, CEO LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

This is the race’s 14th year. More than 70 teams are competing for the title of the fastest on Lake Michigan.

“I call this Key West of the Midwest. Michigan City is phenomenal. The fans show up. They’re always very supportive Midwestern people. The street party, the parade if you’ve got a chance to get out there, it is second to none,” said Tyler Miller, Monster Energy M-Con Racing.

Tyler Miller and his team have won in previous years, but every year brings new challenges and experiences.

“Everybody comes together as the racing family and gets together and it’s very spectacular to see in motor sports the team camaraderie and family stuff,” said Miller,

“The competition is high. These are the best of the best globally. This is not just the best in the US,” said Azam Rangoonwala, CEO Powerboat P1 - United Kingdom.

And racers say it's what Michigan City has to offer spectators and race teams, keeping things close to each other.

“We look for a boat ramp that has enough space, a good Fanbase, a great beach, and good conditions. And that’s what you have here!" said Rangoonwala.

A yearly tradition, growing with each passing event, instilling a new love of offshore racing to first-timers.

“We’ve got second generations coming to this event, bringing their grandkids back. That’s what this should be about,” said Arnett.

This event is free to attend, and races are happening both Saturday and Sunday at Washington Park Beach in Michigan City.

Powerboat P1 is the fastest growing marine motorsport series in the world and has a long term commitment to growing and developing the sport of power boating at all levels. The Powerboat P1 team works closely with the sport�s governing bodies, the UIM, APBA and the IJSBA. P1 has delivered more than 85 world championship events in over twelve different countries for more than a decade.

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• Address: 2320 Clark Street, Suite A1 Apopka, FL 32703 United States
• Phone: +1 407 985 1938
• Email: [email protected]

Cocoa Beach

Fri 17 - Sun 19, May

Lake of the Ozarks

Thu 30, May - Sat 01, Jun

Fri 09 - Sun 11, Aug

Fri 13 - Sun 15, Sep

St. Petersburg

Fri 18 - Sun 20, Oct

222 Offshore in action during 2022

Preparing for racing in St. Petersburg 2022

Wed feb 01 2023, powerboat p1 unveils 2023 uim class 1 race calendar.

• 6-venue World Championship in the United States will build towards an international series in 2024
• Fleet of 8 Class 1 boats expected to compete in this season’s championship
• New event in the City of Sheboygan on Lake Michigan with season finale in Miami

As we look ahead to the 2023 season, I can confirm that both the M CON Racing Team and Sudrheim Offshore Racing will be joining the series to give us an international field of eight boats with teams representing Australia, Sweden, Norway and, of course, the United States. The M CON team will compete in a fully branded Monster Energy boat. This new canopied Skater 438 catamaran is the first purpose-built Class 1 boat for more than a decade. With Sudrheim Racing flying the flag for Norway next year, we can look forward to another Scandinavian team battling for the world title. Azam Rangoonwala Powerboat P1, CEO

Azam Rangoonwala, Powerboat P1CEO

UIM Class 1 World Championship – 2023 Race Calendar

• Thunder on Cocoa Beach : 18-21 May
• Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix : June 30 – 2 July
• Michigan City Great Lakes Grand Prix : 4-6 August TBC
• Sheboygan - Mercury Racing MidWest Challenge : 11-13 August
• St. Petersburg Powerboat Grand Prix : 1-3 September
• Miami Powerboat Grand Prix : TBC

Photo Credits

UIM Class 1 Fleet in race Action: Kevin Sabitus 222 Offshore in race action 2022: Kevin Sabitus Preparing for racing in St. Petersburg 2022: Kevin Sabitus Azam Rangoonwala: PowerboatP1

2023 Race Calendar

P1 Offshore;

Powerboat P1 is the fastest growing marine motorsport series in the world and has a long term commitment to growing and developing the sport of power boating at all levels. The Powerboat P1 team works closely with the sport’s governing bodies, the UIM, APBA and the IJSBA. P1 has delivered more than 85 world championship events in over twelve different countries for more than a decade.

Cookie Policy

Contact info.

• Address: 2320 Clark Street, Suite A1 Apopka, FL 32703 United States
• Phone: +1 407 985 1938
• Email: [email protected]

Cocoa Beach

Fri 17 - Sun 19, May

Lake of the Ozarks

Thu 30, May - 01, Jun

Fri 09 - Sun 11, Aug

Fri 13 - Sun 15, Sep

St. Petersburg

Fri 18 - Sun 20, Oct

Great Lakes Grand Prix Michigan City 2021 Video

Great Lakes Grand Prix Michigan City 2021

February 1, 2023

Powerboat P1 has announced the UIM Class 1 World Championship race calendar for the 2023 season, which sees the series heading to Wisconsin for the first time and returning to favorite locations in Florida and Indiana. A fleet of eight Class 1 boats is expected to compete in the six-venue championship from May through to September.

In October 2020, the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) assigned to Powerboat P1 the international rights to Class 1 racing in an exclusive ten-year agreement that includes organizational and promotion rights to the world championship. However, with the pandemic seriously impacting the 2021 season by preventing overseas teams from traveling to the United States, it wasn’t until this year that P1 was able to action its plans to attract more race teams and grow the series through social media and building the worldwide television audience.

Racing will kick off at Cocoa Beach on Florida’s Atlantic Coast in late May, before moving to the Gulf Coast at the end of June when the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix will celebrate its 38th anniversary. In August the series will head north to Indiana for the Michigan City Great Lakes Grand Prix, and a new event in the Wisconsin city of Sheboygan on the western shore of Lake Michigan will host the Mercury Racing MidWest Challenge. Featuring the top categories of U.S. powerboat racing including Class 1, the three-day festival is expected to attract more than thirty teams to race along the Sheboygan waterfront. In early September the Class 1 fleet will be back on the Gulf Coast in St. Petersburg, and P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwala is in advanced discussions to stage a season finale in Miami. “We raced in this iconic city in 2018 and returning this year with the Class 1 boats would create an outstanding climax to the 2023 championship,” Rangoonwala said.                

“As we look ahead to the 2023 season, I can confirm that both the M CON Racing Team and Sudrheim Offshore Racing will be joining the series to give us an international field of eight boats with teams representing Australia, Sweden, Norway and, of course, the United States,” said Rangoonwala. “The M CON team will compete in a fully branded Monster Energy boat. This new canopied Skater 438 catamaran is the first purpose-built Class 1 boat for more than a decade. With Sudrheim Racing flying the flag for Norway next year, we can look forward to another Scandinavian team battling for the world title.”

This season’s championship will build towards an international race calendar in 2024 with host venues in Scandinavia and the Middle East being added to the schedule. In five years’ time, the key goal in P1’s development plan is to have twelve Class 1 teams racing at ten international venues. “Our live streaming this season will be significantly enhanced by the introduction of a new timing system which will show boat positions, distances between boats, speeds and lap times as live graphics,” explained Rangoonwala. “We’re on an exciting journey and our mantra is to take UIM Class 1 back to the pinnacle of offshore racing."

UIM Class 1 World Championship – 2023 Race Calendar

Thunder on Cocoa Beach : May 18-21 Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix : June 30 – July 2 Michigan City Great Lakes Grand Prix : Aug. 4-6* Sheboygan - Mercury Racing MidWest Challenge : Aug. 11-13 St. Petersburg Powerboat Grand Prix : Sept. 1-3 Miami Powerboat Grand Prix*

*To be confirmed

Latest News

Defalco moves to victory boat in class 1 series, acclaimed throttleman grant bruggemann to join willy cabeza in gc racing, fountain debuts 43 scx center console at miami int'l boat show, 222 offshore receive uim class 1 trophy in monaco.

2023 Standings

• APBA Offshore Championship
• Asia Powerboat Championship
• Australian Offshore
• Bermuda Offshore
• British Offshore Racing
• P1 Offshore
• P1 Superstock
• P1 Superstock US
• Race World Offshore
• Raid Pavia Venezia
• Super Boat International
• UIM Awards Giving Gala
• UIM Class 1
• UIM Marathon
• UIM Pleasure Navigation
• UIM V2 World Powerboat Championship
• UIM XCAT Racing
• UK ThunderCat Racing

• Australian V8 Superboat Championships
• Circuit Powerboat Association
• E1 World Electric Powerboat Series
• F1 Powerboat Championship Series.
• Powerboat GP
• UAE F4 Championship
• UIM OSY400 European Championship
• UIM World Circuit Endurance
• Unlimited Hydroplane Racing
• F1H2O Nations Cup

• P1 AquaX Bahamas World Championship
• UAE Aquabike Championship
• UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship

Powerboat Racing World

Frode Sundsdal

What is prw.

It’s a powerboat racing website that has covered circuit racing, offshore racing and PWC since 2016. Maintained by The Race Factory based in Norway who have specialists in event planning and promotion, social media, graphic design, and photography. We are currently working on our vision and believe that we can and will make a different in powerboating. We will dedicate our time to produce accurate factual stories and to promote the sport to a wider global audience.

6-venue World Championship in the United States will build towards an international series in 2024.

Fleet of 8 class 1 boats expected to compete in this season’s championship., new event in the city of sheboygan on lake michigan with season finale in miami..

Powerboat P1 has today announced the UIM Class 1 World Championship race calendar for the 2023 season, which sees the series heading to Wisconsin for the first time and returning to favourite locations in Florida and Indiana. A fleet of eight Class 1 boats is expected to compete in the six-venue championship from May through to September.

In October 2020, the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) assigned to Powerboat P1 the international rights to Class 1 racing in an exclusive ten-year agreement that includes organisational and promotion rights to the world championship. However, with the pandemic seriously impacting the 2021 season by preventing overseas teams from traveling to the United States, it wasn’t until this year that P1 was able to action its plans to attract more race teams and grow the series through social media and building the worldwide television audience.

Racing will kick off at Cocoa Beach on Florida’s Atlantic Coast in late May, before moving to the Gulf Coast at the end of June when the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix will celebrate its 38 th  anniversary. In August the series will head north to Indiana for the Michigan City Great Lakes Grand Prix, and a new event in the Wisconsin city of Sheboygan on the western shore of Lake Michigan will host the Mercury Racing MidWest Challenge.

Featuring the top categories of U.S. powerboat racing including Class 1, the three-day festival is expected to attract more than thirty teams to race along the Sheboygan waterfront. In early September the Class 1 fleet will be back on the Gulf Coast in St. Petersburg, and P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwala is in advanced discussions to stage a season finale in Miami. “We raced in this iconic city in 2018 and returning this year with the Class 1 boats would create an outstanding climax to the 2023 championship,” said Rangoonwala.

“As we look ahead to the 2023 season, I can confirm that both the M CON Racing Team and Sudrheim Offshore Racing will be joining the series to give us an international field of eight boats with teams representing Australia, Sweden, Norway and, of course, the United States,” said P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwala. “The M CON team will compete in a fully branded Monster Energy boat. This new canopied Skater 438 catamaran is the first purpose-built Class 1 boat for more than a decade. With Sudrheim Racing flying the flag for Norway next year, we can look forward to another Scandinavian team battling for the world title.”

This season’s championship will build towards an international race calendar in 2024 with host venues in Scandinavia and the Middle East being added to the schedule. In five years’ time, the key goal in P1’s development plan is to have twelve Class 1 teams racing at ten international venues. “Our live streaming this season will be significantly enhanced by the introduction of a new timing system which will show boat positions, distances between boats, speeds and lap times as live graphics,” explained Rangoonwala.

“We’re on an exciting journey and our mantra is to take UIM Class 1 back to the pinnacle of offshore racing,”

added Rangoonwala.

UIM Class 1 World Championship – 2023 Race Calendar:

18-21: MayThunder: on Cocoa Beach.

June 30 – 2 July: Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix.

4-6 August: Michigan City Great Lakes Grand Prix. tbc

11-13 August: Sheboygan – Mercury Racing MidWest Challenge.

1-3 September: St. Petersburg Powerboat Grand Prix.

TBC: Miami Powerboat Grand Prix : tbc

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