GM Vortec HP3 8100 V8 Marine Engine Powers Winning Team
Vortec Power Team Poised to Maintain Points Lead at 2002 APBA National Championships
PONTIAC, Mich. - The Vortec Power Team-in high-speed boats powered by the Vortec HP3 8100 V8 engine-leads the points battle going into the 2002 American Power Boat Association Offshore Race Series Freeport, Grand Bahama National Championships on Oct. 18-20.
"We are very pleased with the GM APBA-Offshore partnership," said Rick Dunagan, executive director of marketing & OEM sales for GM Powertrain. "The Vortec Power Team program has assisted GM in proving the durability of the new Vortec HP3 8100 V8. Because APBA-Offshore is one of the harshest engine environments that exist, we can be confident that this engine will set a new standard for performance marine engines."
The Vortec Power Team is comprised of nine teams, including Vortec Extreme, High Noon Racing, Pier 57, Team Solarized, Team Fury, Team Scarab, UTZ Quality Foods, Rodriguez Group and Team Ettore.
In the Super Vee Light Single class, Vortec Extreme ranks in first place in the points standing with 723 points. Vortec Extreme earned first-place finishes at APBA Offshore Races in Savannah, Ga; Cleveland, Ohio; and Corpus Christi, Texas and set a world record at the Savannah race with a speed of 89.672 mph. The second place contender in the points battle is High Noon Racing with 570 points with one win at the Daytona, Fla. APBA race. Team Fury is in third place with 521 points and Solarized is in fourth place with 333 points.
"The Vortec HP3 8100 has performed consistently in each race this season; shattering old records, creating a more competitive field in the Super Vee Light Division, and providing unparalleled durability in a performance marine engine," Dunagan added. "We are now incorporating learnings from the marine race engine program into Vortec Engines for GM Trucks, Vans, and SUVs, continually improving the breed of Vortec. The successful GM APBA-Offshore engine development program is testament that GM Vortec Engines have the highest standard of durability and performance for production engines in the industry...on the land or on the sea."
In the Super Vee Light Twin class, Pier 57 leads the way with 723 points with wins in Daytona, Fla. and Savannah, Ga. UTZ Quality Foods is 39 points back with 684 points and wins in Marathon, Fla. and Corpus Christi, Texas. UTZ Quality Foods also set a new, world record in the Super Vee Light Twin class with a speed of 106.167 mph in Savannah, Ga. on July 5, 2002. Rodriguez Group runs in third place with 653 points and Lucas Oil Scarab is in fourth place with 422 points.
The National Championship in Freeport, Grand Bahama Oct. 18-20 is the seventh race in the 2002 APBA Offshore Race Series, which consists of eight offshore races at various venues.
Competitors in 10 race classes will continue to vie for points leading to the World Championship Nov. 18-24 in Key West, Fla. All race weekends include a two-day format and are televised on cable network FOX Speed Channel. For additional information log-on to www.gmvortec.com or www.apbaoffshore.com.
