Baleno RS, with 89 points from the three races, clinched the team championships at the Nexa P1 Powerboat Indian Grand Prix of the Seas which concluded here on Sunday.
Leading the six-team pack after two races on Saturday, the two Baleno RS boats (Sam Coleman & Daisy Coleman and C.S Santosh & Martin Robinson) sewed it up in the 20-lap third race.
The Coleman siblings completed a hat-trick of victories with the third (worth 20 points) on Sunday while Santosh & Robinson’s efforts were worth 10 points. The combined effort earned Baleno RS the title and $50,000 prize money.
Team Lucky Dolphins, just two points adrift of the leader, took second place while MoneyOnMobile Martins (79) was third.
“I had to complement them (Colemans) and worked hard at the concept. I enjoyed powerboat racing and when you enjoy sport, you become better,” said Santosh, who was making his powerboat debut.
Santosh’s fitness, developed over a career in two-wheeler racing, too was a factor. “He is fitter than most of us powerboat drivers. You give him time and he will deliver,” said Sam Coleman.
Martin Robinson, who was Santosh’s navigator here, said: “I knew he was a local hero. I knew I was in the same team as a real athlete.”
The other Indian in the event, rally ace Gaurav Gill, was part of the fourth placed Team Ultra Sharks.
The final placings: 1. Baleno RS (Race 3: Sam Coleman & Daisy Coleman, C.S. Santosh & Martin Robinson 30 points) 89; 2. Lloyd Dolphins (Craig Wilson & William Enriquez, Stuart Cureton & Sara Cureton 30) 87; 3. MoneyOnMobile Martins (James Norvill & Christian Parsons-Young, Glynn Norvall & Lee Norvall 27) 79; 4. Ultra Sharks (Gaurav Gill & George Ivey, Neil Jackson & Jason Jackson 23) 64; 5. Mirchi Mavericks (David Taft & Fredrick Bastian, John Donnelly & Kevin Burdock 8) 45; 6. HVR Racing (Darren Nicholson & Giovanni Carpetilla, Frank Silva & Tony Ianotta 19) 34 .
