Successful in Powerboat P1 Superstock racing for the past six years, Craig and Cynthia Belfatto are moving into the Class 5 ranks in the six-race 2020 American Power Boat Association Offshore Championship Series being produced by P1 and the Offshore Powerboat Association. The Tampa, Fla.-based husband-and-wife Bulletproof Offshore racing team will run a 29-foot Warlock powered by a 740-hp supercharged engine. Formerly owned by Missouri’s Mike Wright, who has moved into the Super Stock class with teammate Loren Peters, 29-footer won world championships in 2013 and 2017.

Craig and Cynthia Belfatto are hoping to continue their winning ways this season in a proven 29-foot Warlock (above) raceboat with a history of success. Photos courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

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“We’re going to kick off the season at Cocoa Beach, head to LOTO, Sarasota, St. Clair, Michigan City, Ft. Myers and finish the season in Englewood,” said Craig Belfatto in a press release from the team. “We know it’s an aggressive program for a new team, but we believe we have the equipment and personnel to make it happen”.

The Belatto’s will alternate throttling the boat with fellow P1 Superstock-class racing veteran George Ivey behind the wheel. In 2019, Ivey partnered with the Belfatto’s in the Visit St. Pete/Clearwater Superstock raceboat, and the team won the OPA and APBA P1 Superstock National Championships.

Though the 2020 season will be the first for the Belfattos in Class 5, they are not rookies to the bracket-racing ranks. During the 2018 season, they traded off throttling the Two Cruel raceboat in Class 4 under the Super Boat International umbrella and took home a world title with the team in Key West, Fla. They returned to P1 Superstock the following year and won a national championship.

“This year just seemed like the right time to start our own team’” said Craig Belfatto. “We had the opportunity to purchase a great boat with tremendous potential. While we still have a lot to learn, we have plenty of racing experience gained over the past few seasons and we have the support of some very talented people such as my wife Cynthia who is a natural on the throttles. She is one of a few women actively participating in offshore racing and accomplished enough that the press has compared her to (offshore racing great) Betty Cook.

The Belfattos earned their stripes in the Powerboat P1 Superstock class.

“We probably couldn’t have picked a more competitive class with great teams, anyone of which can win on any given day,” he added. “So it’s up to Bulletproof Offshore to get the job done in 2020.”

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