As the P1 SuperStock USA series gets set to kick off its seventh season of racing stateside, the organization recently announced that this year’s five-venue national championship, which starts next month in Kissimmee, Fla., will feature a new title sponsor to complement its new Mercury Racing 300XS OptiMax engine program that was announced in December (read the story).

The P1 SuperStock USA season kicks off in Kissimmee, Fla., in late May. Photo courtesy P1 Superstock USA

The one-design race series concluded a sponsorship deal with Florida-based Spectre Powerboats that will see its fleet of P1 Panther race boats compete in the Spectre P1 SuperStock USA Championship this summer.

“The P1 series has created a huge following through its TV programming and great race events over the last six years,” said Chris Ivey, owner and president of Spectre Powerboats, in a press release. “We are excited to partner with them for the 2017 championship. It’s an awesome opportunity for us to promote the best-looking boats in the market at the best powerboat events in the USA.”

Ivey, a former endurance sportscar racer, said he plans to use selected P1 events to showcase the company’s new 32-foot catamaran powered by twin Mercury Racing Verado 400R engines. He also said Spectre is going to sponsor a team this season with experienced racer Craig Wilson and his younger sister, Kate, handling the driving responsibilities.

“I’m very excited to be racing the Spectre P1 boat and to have Kate alongside me as navigator” Wilson commented in the release. “With the new Mercury engine it’s like driving a brand new boat and I can’t wait to get the season underway.”

P1 is going to make its sixth visit to Kissimmee for the opening round on May 20 before moving on to Jacksonville and St. Pete Beach in June. The 33rd annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival is set to host the fourth round at the beginning of July and the series is going make its first visit to the beautiful Florida Keys when Islamorada will be the superb venue for the season finale in August.

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