UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series organisers announced on Wednesday that Daytona in Florida has been included in the calendar for 2014.
This April will see Round Three go Stateside after The World Professional Powerboating Association (WPPA) confirmed that Daytona will host the fastest machines on water.
The addition means that the series will now be run at more over-seas venues, including Italy, Switzerland, Azerbaijan and China. The home venues are Dubai and Fujairah with the former also hosting the Grand Final round from December 11-13.
The 15 teams will be travelling to three continents over the coming year as the action spans the globe from January to December 2014.
With the series continually expanding, there will be 10 races in the coming season, with the second race of the year scheduled for Fujairah from February 12-14.
One of the pilots particularly thrilled with the announcement was American Jay Price, who revealed that this will be the first time he will race on home waters for 20 years.
WPPA secretary general Sid Bensalah said: “These are exciting times for the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series. We have been working tirelessly to set up the series for 2014 as we constantly look to improve and expand what is fast becoming the most competitive form of power-boat racing in the world.
“The USA was always one of our targets since we launched the XCAT project last year, and now we have a great opportunity to enter the US market.
“Last year was a great season as we took the series to three new locations, with wonderfully successful events in Stresa and Arona in Italy and Ningbo, China.
“And 2014 will also be a year of growth as we initiate many new developments and we look forward to introducing XCAT racing to several new locations while also, of course, remembering our roots in the Middle East,” added Bensalah.
Meanwhile, in the opening round in Dubai last weekend, it was the Fazza duo of Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir bin Hendi who claimed victory to take top spot in the over-all series standings.
