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MASERATI CHAIRMAN OFFERS BEST WISHES FOR ‘MASERATI’ TO BEAT HIS OWN ALFA ROMEO RACE RECORD

Neville Crichton, the Executive Chairman of Maserati Australia and New Zealand, has sent his best wishes to John Elkann, the Chairman of Fiat Spa, the parent company of Maserati, who has joined the crew of racing yacht ‘Maserati’ in a bid to smash the race record in the Transpac yacht race that starts next week (8 July 2013) in Los Angeles – a race record set in 2009 by Neville Crichton in his own super maxi, Alfa Romeo II.

“Of course John and the crew have my best wishes for a safe race,” said Neville Crichton who, with 174 blue water ocean wins to his credit has been dubbed the most successful ocean racer in the world. “Race records are made to be beaten and although ‘Maserati’ has been successful in collecting a series of records around the world and they have my best wishes for a successful race, I think skipper Giovanni Soldini and his crew, including John, will have their work cut out to beat our record set in 2009!”

Participating the 2013 Transpac race as part of the launch of the new Maserati Quattroporte in the USA, the yacht ‘Maserati’ boasts all the latest technology and has benefited from a major pre-race refit in the USA, but, at 65 feet long and with a 100 foot mast, she is considerably smaller in both size and sail area than the 100 foot long and 120 foot tall Alfa Romeo II was in 2009 and with which she shares most of the same advanced technology.

The Transpac race is unusual in that it has a handicapped start, with the slowest boats setting off first and the fastest yachts, such as Alfa Romeo II, departing days after the first yachts start their dash for the finish line in Hawaii, with Maserati not setting of until 13 July, five days after the first yachts start. Nevertheless, in 2009 Alfa Romeo II was so quick that in setting the race record of five days, 14 hours and 36 minutes, Neville Crichton overtook the entire race field prior to arriving in Honolulu.

“We had ideal conditions in 2009and Alfa Romeo II performed perfectly throughout the race,” says Neville Crichton who went on to finish his 2009 season with the line honours win in the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race. “To beat our record, ‘Maserati’ will need to perform perfectly in every area for the duration of the race and have the ideal weather. In the Pacific Ocean, even in the northern summer, that’s a pretty big call!”

“One thing I am sure of is that John Elkann will not be just along for the ride,” says Neville Crichton. “We had the pleasure of having him on board Alfa Romeo while we were racing in Europe and I know he shares his family’s passion, knowledge and ability in yacht racing and, as the chairman of one of the world’s leading companies, he is a skilled people manager and team builder, something that will play a vital role in the success of ‘Maserati’ in the Transpac race.”

Although now retired from ocean racing, after a highly successful career and three generations of Alfa Romeo super maxi yachts, Neville Crichton is not just the Executive Chairman of Maserati Australia and New Zealand and the Sydney Maserati dealer, Ferrari Maserati Sydney. He has maintained his links with Alfa Romeo with the launch this year of Fiat Chrysler New Zealand, a new company that is the importer of Fiat Chrysler products, including Alfa Romeo, into New Zealand which was launched on 1 May 2013.

“Racing super yachts is one of the most challenging sports in the world,” says Neville Crichton. “To be successful it requires a perfect blend of technology, skill, team management and a passion and dedication to battle the worst weather and cope with unique levels of risk. It is, therefore, highly appropriate that first Alfa Romeo and now Maserati have provided their names to yacht racing as it is this very same blend of abilities, passion and technology, that has made them both automotive legends.”

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Glen Sealey
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Release Number: Maserati_387

Date of release: 12/8/2018 7:33:29 PM