Ibiza Grand Prix Under Starters Orders

Words: Graham Currie
Images: NicJ
Yousef Ants Image Courtesy of UNITED ANTS

Playa d’en Bossa was the focal point for the world powerboat racing community yesterday as the firs day of the Ibiza Grand Prix finally got under way. After months of anticipation building around the event, the Class 1 Powerboats took to the water, as did the Aquabikes, for a day of practice ahead of the race for pole position. There was a real buzz as we headed to Bossa, and with cars parked all the way along the road into the top end of the resort, it was clear it was going to be a busy one. We were lucky and got parked behind Space, perfect for dropping on to the beach at the side of the Hard Rock Hotel where the main grandstand was located. The Class 1 Powerboat World Championship is a distinguished event, and one that many holiday resorts would gladly welcome, 2014 is the first year it has been awarded to Spain and the choice of Ibiza is a massive boost for the island. All of the venues on the beach can see the action and, with numerous events being hosted in each of these venues, there is a real carnival spirit on the beach.

Ibiza Grand Prix

Buy tickets for the Ibiza Grand Prix Festival at Playa den Bossa from Essential Ibiza and enjoy great discounts and queue jump entry.

We stop to admire the Brabus cars that line the entrance to the beach at Sir Rocco, knowing full well we will need to keep playing the lottery before one of these beasts is sitting in the drive! Sir Rocco has welcomed Kenneth Bager’s Music For Dreams party for the day and with Bob Masters, Jon Sa Trinxa and DJ Pippi amongst the long list of talented DJs joining Kenneth, it promises to be a cool alternative to the big event happening in the Racing Circus next door. The grandstand is filling up but, in the heat of the afternoon, it is a scorcher of a seat, although the elevated view of the race bellow is well worth a little sweat. The Racing Circus is the event part of the Ibiza Grand prix, with a roped off area in front of the grandstand, where the Ants DJ have already started laying the foundations for the party, and two shaded bars on either side, where the 3 day beach pass for 25 euros gets you six free beers. The Aquabikes are roaring around the course, the riders showing remarkable skill to negotiate the tight turns around the huge inflatable buoys.

We decide to head down the beach and check out what is happening elsewhere. Bossa beach is packed, there’s hardly a space for a towel as the crowds turn out to catch a glimpse of the action. The paddock is situated in front of Beachouse as the bikes rev their engines before bursting into action in the water. There is a smell of gasoline in the air and plenty of action happening as the teams prepare their riders. Nassau is the official host of the after race lunch and is packed, with the usual beach clientele mixing with race viewers, this is a great spot to watch the race, although if truth be told, anywhere on the beach gets you a view of the majestic machines powering across the top of the sea, but Nassau does have the benefit of a corner, showcasing the skill of the pilots as they negotiate the tight turn and subsequent acceleration. All along the beach, the venues are packed, Sands, which will host the lunch on Saturday and Coco Beach, where the gala dinner will take place, are all bursting with clientele all keen to get a sight of the inaugural Ibiza Grand Prix.

Ibiza Grand Prix

Buy tickets for the Ibiza Grand Prix Festival at Playa den Bossa from Essential Ibiza and enjoy great discounts and queue jump entry.

Early afternoon was all about the free practice, getting used to the course conditions of the day before the pole position later that day. Everyone was waiting patiently for the Class 1 boats to hit the water, not taking anything away from the Aquabikes, which were impressive, but the main event was clearly the big, noisy boats. The waiting was finally over, we never seen it so much as heard it first with a deafening roar before the Nassau Searex boat sped past us, gracefully perched on the very tip of the water, getting the maximum speed as it powered along the Bossa coast. Each of the boasts enjoyed time on the course, with varying levels of noise although most of them tried to keep as much of the boat out of the sea to get the bigger speeds. It was exciting and a little terrifying to imagine what life must belike inside the tiny cockpit with a letterbox sized window to look out of. Having watched the promo video numerous times, it’s not until you see them for yourself that the speed becomes real. The race can’t come quick enough!

Back along in front of the grandstand the crowd has swelled, the sun is starting to go down and the free party is gathering some momentum of its own. Ants has been one of the most exciting parties of the last two season, building on 2013 with another spectacular summer in 2014 and the colony was clearly in the mood to party. Joining some of the regulars such as Los Suruba and UNER was Yousef, who we caught the end of as he dropped a chunky but groovy slice of tech house/ techno on the large crowd. Looking out from the grandstand booth, across the sea of heads to the Mediterranean as it lapped powerfully against the sand, it has been an amazing day one of the Ibiza Grand Prix and the good news is, it has only just started! There are plenty of thrills and hopefully not too many spills between now and the champion being crowned on Sunday. Saturday sees some more practice before the first race gets under way at 15.30.

Ibiza Grand Prix

Buy tickets for the Ibiza Grand Prix Festival at Playa den Bossa from Essential Ibiza and enjoy great discounts and queue jump entry.