ABU DHABI – Thursday, 11 June - Second generation UIM F1 H2O World Championship driver Cedric Deguisne is returning to the series for the first time in over a decade leading Team Maverick driving the number 73 boat at his countries 19th Grand Prix of France on the weekend of the 26th thru 28th of May in Evian on the shore of Lake Geneva.
The 41 year-old driver from Macon, first made a name for himself when he finished second in the 1995 French S2000 Championship, later, switching to the S3000 title winning back to back in 2002 and 2003 before entering the world of F1 H2O for the first time in 2004.
Cedric, raced the entire 2004 campaign with Italian Fabio Comparato and the Comparato Racing organization starting six races that season qualifying a 14th best at his first race in Mumbai, India and finishing a career best 10th for his only world championship point at the Grand Prix of Italy in Cagliari, Sardinia.
The likeable French pilot, also had bad luck that season with back to back mishaps crashing out in Shanghai, China followed up with a boat fire in Singapore failing to start either Grand Prix before finishing the season in Sharjah.
Cedric, came back the following season, racing the first two rounds at Portimao, Portugal and Como, Italy as part of the DanIta Racing Team. That organization, was punctuated by a five driver line-up that came and went throughout the year which also included Denmark's lead driver Gert Ladefoged, UAE's Arif Al Zafeen, American Chris Fairchild and Norwegian Rolf Magne Sunde.
The familiar winner of the 24 Hours of Rouen, is one of ten different drivers from France who have competed on the UIM F1 H2O World Championship tour since it's beginnings back in 1981. Joining that list is his own father Jean-Vital Deguisne who raced three years on the circuit from 1995 thru 1997.
Jean-Vital, like his son, has scored his highest result, a 10th, at five different Grand Prix races including his first championship points back at his home Grand Prix in Chalon-sur-Saone back in 1995.
“I'm so excited to be returning to the world of F1,” said Cedric. “I grew up with it when my father raced in the series and have always looked for a route back to circuit. It is going to be a magnificent moment for my whole family when we arrive in Evian, it will be a memorable moment for all my friends and family. I can't wait to race again against the world's best drivers.”
With Cedric's arrival in the paddock, it will mark the third French driver on home ground contesting the race in Evian including reigning World Champion Philippe Chiappe of the CTIC China Team.
Here, along the lovely setting of the Rhone-Alps in south-eastern France, which lies along the spectacular shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) and the dazzling city of Evian, the Grand Prix of France will mark the 19th time a race event has taken place in the country since the series inception dating back to 1981.
Official qualifying for pole position will take place on Saturday afternoon on the 27th of June starting at 16:25 local (15:25 GMT) and 10:25 EDT on the East Coast of North America and should take 75 minutes to complete the three qualifying sessions.
The following afternoon, on the 28th of June, the official Grand Prix and the second round of the 2015 UIM F1 H2O World Championship for power boating is scheduled for 15:00 local (14:00 GMT) and 09:00 EDT on the East Coast of North America.
Both qualifying and the Grand Prix can be watched “live” via the worldwide television broadcast by going the series official website at www.f1h2o.com.
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