Pastrana Back In The Cockpit For St. Petersburg Grand Prix – Speed on the Water
As throttleman Steve Curtis said last week in a preview article for the upcoming St. Petersburg Grand Prix in Southwest Florida, the race will be one of hoped-for redemption for the Class 1 Huski Ice Spritz team. Last year, the team—then running as Huski Chocolate—earned the Union Internationale Motonautique Class 1 World Championship series title with Travis Pastrana and his childhood friend Brit Lilly alternating as drivers. And for the final race of the series, Pastrana and Curtis shared the cockpit.
Travis Pastrana and Steve Curtis will be back in the cockpit together for the first time since claiming the 2022 Class 1 World Championship Series title. Photo courtesy/copyright David Lando.
Though professional and personal obligations have kept the motorsports great out of the Huski Ice Spritz cockpit this season. Pastrana drove the Pothole Heroes/Allegra Motorsports raceboat alongside throttleman John Tomlinson last month in the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix. But the catamaran exited mid-race with mechanical issues.
That the 2023 UIM Class 1 World Championship Series title has been clinched by the 222 Offshore Australia team hasn’t dulled his enthusiasm for the upcoming September 1-3 event in St. Petersburg.
“Jumping back into the final round of the championship (series), I wanted to have the opportunity to run No. 1 on the side of the boat from last year’s championship at least one time in my life,” said Pastrana. “Hopefully, Steve and I can give the new champs a run for their money.”
Out of the Huski Ice Spritz cockpit in St. Pete, Lilly will run his Mod V-class LSB/Hurricane of Awesomeness raceboat.
“It’s not every day you can give up your seat to your best friend,” said Lilly. “Steve Curtis is the man and they will pick up right where we left off. We figured out a lot of things with the boat during the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge and I’ll be stoked to see the team capitalize on these adjustments.”
Said Curtis with a chuckle, “I feel like I’m ‘two-timing’ on Brit with Travis running the boat in St. Pete, but as they are such good friends I know Brit is OK with it. Travis is a terrific driver and I’m sure we will get right back into the groove.
“And I promise Brit I’ll make it up to him in Key West,” he added, then laughed again.
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