ABU DHABI, Tuesday, 26 February: Norway's first lady of powerboat racing Marit Strømøy has confirmed she will team-up with long-time friend Pål Virik Nilsen to race together for the first time when Class 1 makes its historic racing debut in Sanya in China on 28-30 March.

The F1H2O star will swap the confines of her single-seater F1H2O circuit boat to take the wheel beside the experienced Pål Virik in the same Maritimo-designed and built hull powered by Mercury V8 power-plants that she made her Class 1 debut in in Brazil in 2010. "Racing in Class 1 with Pål is a great opportunity to learn more about Class 1," she said. "It's very different from my inshore boat, but I'm always up for a challenge. I've raced in China many times and they are well known for putting on a great show so we are excited to go there."