Even before the green flag flew on Sunday, last weekend’s Race World Offshore 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix hadn’t been particularly kind to the Super Cat-class fleet. Both the Rollin Transport/SV OffshoreRacing and Farnsworth Motorsports/Hancock Claims Consultants teams experienced significant engine problems during Saturday’s practice session at the Marathon, Fla., event.
Despite having to replace an engine after Saturday’s practice session, Rollin Transport/SV Offshore Racing Super Cat finished third on Sunday. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
The Rollin Transport/SV Offshore Racing team, which runs 39-foot Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats catamaran was able replace its sick Scorpion engine with a spare from another builder. Owner/throttleman Vinnie Diorio and driver Matt Jam Jamniczky finished third in Sunday’s main event.
But the team won’t make it to the next race, May 17-19 in Cocoa Beach, Fla.
“We need to get our motors figured out,” said Diorio. “The that popped Saturday was brand-new. And other one doesn’t sound so great.”
Saturday’s practice session went even worse for the Farnsworth Motorsports/Hancock Claims Consultants, which runs a 40-foot MTI catamaran. Both of its engines—Scopion platforms rebuilt in the off season by Kasse—failed during Saturday’s practice and the team did not start Sunday’s race.
Thanks to engine issues, fans only got to see the Farnsworth Motorsports/Hancock Claims Consultants in action during practice.
But according to team owner Win Farnsworth, the team is not officially out for Cocoa Beach.
“I’ve been on the phone trying to assess everything,” he said. “So I’m not sure.”
