Legendary Powerboat Racer/Designer Renato Molinari Dies
A household name in the world of tunnel boat racing and design as well as the offshore powerboat endurance racing community, Renato Molinari has died at his home in Italy. He was 78 years old.
The United Kingdom Offshore Powerboat Racing Association announced Molinari’s passing in a post on its Facebook page this morning.
With the death of Italian Renato Molinari, (far left) powerboat racing has lost one of its greatest competitors and designers. Photos courtesy of the United Kingdom Offshore Powerboat Racing Association and Powerboat Archive
“Renato was a true champion in both offshore and inland powerboat racing, most famously winning the inaugural F1 Championship in 1981 and then following up in 1983 and 1984,” the post read. “Other titles were the 24 Hours of Rouen in Paris (four times) and winning the Bristol Grand Prix three times in the 1970s. The list is endless. Remarkable.”
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE POWERBOAT RACING CAREER OF RENATO MOLINARI
Among Molinari’s stateside tunnel boat racing accomplishments were two victories at the then nine-hour Parker Enduro in Parker, Ariz. Splitting cockpit time with fellow driver Bobby Hering, he took top honors in the grueling Colorado River contest in 1975 and 1977.
A three-time F1H2O tunnel boat world champion, Floridian Shaun Torrente got to know Molinari well during his years in the sport. As he was for many of the world’s finest tunnel boat pilots, Molinari an was an inspiration and mentor for Torrente, who has become a high-performance marine product innovator and manufacturer in his own right.
Molinari also succeeded in the offshore endurance powerboat racing world.
Torrente, who described the news as “terrible,” flashed back to a race in 2016 where he struck a buoy and received a “drive-through” penalty that put him in last place. He battled his way through the pack to finish second.
“I was angry—I was just pissed,” Torrente recalled. “Everybody was congratulating me, but I was still angry. As I walking to the awards, Renato stopped me and said, ‘Shaun, that was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.’ To hear him say that was a ‘pinch-me’ moment.
“As far as I’m concerned, he invented tunnel boat racing,” he continued. “He was an icon. It was just great to be around him.”
The late Renato Molinari (above) was a mentor and inspiration to many of the world’s finest tunnel boat racers.
Related stories
Torrente Retires From Tunnel-Boat Racing
Victory Team’s Stark Takes Start-To-Finish Win In First Vietnam F1H2O Race
F1H2O Rookie Wyatt Nails Last-Gasp Victory To Open Season In Indonesia
Torrente Recovering After Crash In F1H2O Grand Prix Of Sharjah Saturday Qualifying Race
The post Legendary Powerboat Racer/Designer Renato Molinari Dies appeared first on Speed on the Water.
