Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival Postponed

Organizers for the 36th Annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix, originally scheduled for June 26-28, have announced the race will not be held as originally planned and look to possibly rescheduling the race later this year pending CDC, state, and local government guidelines. The City of Sarasota advised organizers recently that they are temporarily postponing all upcoming events until further notice. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also announced yesterday that the state of Florida will gradually lift coronavirus lockdowns, though parts of the state will reopen more slowly than others. Last year, the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix generated an estimated economic impact of $29.6 Million and 16,800 room nights. Lucy Nicandri, Executive Director for Suncoast Charities for Children stated, “Knowing both the economic and charitable benefits this event generates, this was a very difficult decision to make. However, it is important for Suncoast Charities for Children to abide by all future national/state/local governmental guidelines governing all outdoor special events as the state of Florida slowly reopens. Suncoast Charities for Children organizes the Grand Prix Festival, and like other nonprofits throughout the state, needs to maintain the financial flexibility to respond and continue supporting programs and services for those in need.” Powerboat P1 CEO, Azam Rangoonwala, and Offshore Powerboat Association President, Roland Smith, both expressed their full understanding of the need for race site promoters to seriously consider postponing their events to allow sufficient recovery time from the Coronavirus pandemic. For more updates on the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix race visit their website www.sarasotapowerboatgrandprix.org or via their Facebook page @SarasotaGrandPrix For more updates on this year’s entire race schedule visit either of these websites: P1offshore.com | Oparacing.org 2020 APBA Offshore National Championship Race Calendar Lake of the Ozarks, MO May 28-30 Sarasota, FL June 26-28 *Postponed – New Date T/B/A St. Clair, MI July 24-26 Michigan City, IN July 31-August 2 Cocoa Beach, FL August 27-30 Fort Myers Beach, FL October 8-10