After just missing a podium finish in the 2009 Powerboat P1 World Championship season weeks ago in Sicily, British-American powerboat racing veteran Nigel Hook has not been idle; he is preparing to defend his 2008 SBI Super Vee Unlimited World Champion title, won with teammates Joe Sgro and Mike Fiore in an Outerlimits. This November in Key West, he will be doing it with a newly formed team, the #77 LUCAS OIL SCANDINAVIAN OFFSHORE CHALLENGE.

Hook will be joined by driver Michael Silfverberg, a Swedish adventurer, businessman and entrepreneur. A native of Stockholm, Silfverberg brings new energy and a trove of seafaring knowledge, having served as a commercial captain, navy submariner and the head of Supreme Marine, a Swedish high-performance boat and yacht dealer.

Hook and Silfverberg will pilot a V399 Skater with Mercury Racing P1 engines, a detuned version of the 850 SCi developed specifically for P1 race teams two seasons ago. Hook won the 2006 SBI Championship in this Skater and also ran this boat in the last race of the Powerboat P1 World Championship with Belgian Nico Huybens, as in the Scandinavian Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the season, he and teammate Joe Sgro barrel rolled the Outerlimits SV43 and could not finish the 2009 season together. The Lucas Oil Outerlimits team took fourth place in the Championship.

An enthusiastic Silfverberg said “I feel confident racing with such an experienced pilot as Nigel and look forward to racing in Key West--I have a good feeling about this!” Hook, likewise has good vibes about his new team mate. “I’ve test driven on the water with Michael at speeds in excess of what we’ll be running on the Key West track,” Hook said, “I’m keen to play out our race strategy.”

Hook sees the 2009 SBI Offshore World Championships, November 11-15, as “an ideal catalyst to ignite the new international partnership between Lucas Oil and Scandinavian Offshore Challenge.”

Good Luck to Nigel Hook and Michael Silfverberg at the 2009 Key West Offshore World Championship.

I thought you could not run the 850 Mercs in that class. That is why they would not let Miccosukee run Super Vee Unlimited.

and I thought UNLIMITED meant just that... UNLIMITED.....

Best of luck to the newly formed Lucas Oil Team !

Nigel never rests.

He is one of the most determined racers out there that keeps moving forward to win.

The team is certainly to be a top contender at the Worlds and in the 2010 season.

nigel won the real unlimited class last year vs cash killer...

Sean you hit it on the head.
The won last year in the real unlimited class. Remember Frank, Peter and Bill formed the unlimited limited 509 class right before last years worlds so they won't have to race those guys.
Congrats Nigel see you in the keys.

I think I am going to run p1, P2, svu,svuex, and hell, maybe even turbine...

Good morning,
It has been pointed out that the word "compete" (instead of "defend") would have been more appropriate in our press release title since Nigel isn't running in the same class that he won in last year.
Our Mercury 850 Sci engines are too big for the Super V Unlimited class and the Skater is too short for the Super V Extreme class; therefore, we will be racing in the P1 class.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone so please stop by and say hello.
See you soon, Janet

haha thats the spirit!

Well how bout that.

So if you can't beat the guys you're supposed to run with, you can just start your own class to avoid having to lose?

Like Tee-Ball, everyone gets a trophy?

That's just the way it read, is that essentially what that means?