This isn’t the first time you’ve heard about the insurance company with the cheeky gecko as its mascot – GEICO – before on The Watercraft Journal, and if this year’s AquaX series has anything to say about it, it definitely won’t be your last. This past weekend, P1 AquaX announced the partnership between it and the powersports insurance company in a press release (included below) as well as in person at the Thunder By the Bay Festival in Sarasota, Florida, P1 USA Managing Director Azam Rangoonwala came out to make the announcement.
Not only will GEICO be sponsoring a P1 SuperStock race boat and an AquaX racer in 2016 – Jason Russo, to be exact. Russo is slated to represent GEICO in the P1 AquaX Pro Enduro Championship. P1 AquaX’s Michelle Petro told The Watercraft Journal, “Yes. I can tell you that we are very excited about the partnership and having GEICO on board with the series. Miss GEICO is an iconic team in the power boat world and having them sponsor a PWC is a step in the right direction for both P1 and watercraft racing. I believe it makes a positive statement for the future of PWC racing and the AquaX platform.”
Here’s the official press release:
GEICO will make a bigger splash in race waters this year when the 2016 season series begins in April. Along with its World Champion Miss GEICO racing team, GEICO will also sponsor both a P1 SuperStock race boat and an AquaX racer in 2016.
The GEICO-branded P1 Panther race boat, driven by World P1 Champion racer, Craig Wilson, will make its first appearance in Tavares, Fla., in April. Seasoned rider Jason Russo will take to the water later that month in Daytona to fly the flag for GEICO in the P1 AquaX Pro Enduro Championship.
Wilson, who launched onto the racing scene in 2002, is looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the P1 Panther. “I’ve enjoyed watching the one-design series both at events and on television and it looks to be hugely competitive. To lift the SuperStock title, the GEICO team will need to quickly get to grips with the Panther boat and perform consistently well against some impressive teams.”
Russo added, “The Miss GEICO race boat is iconic in offshore powerboat racing and I am thrilled to be part of the GEICO team for the 2016 season.” The Miss GEICO offshore race team has won eight world titles and more than 100 individual races since its inception in 2005.
“We are delighted to welcome GEICO Racing to our two race series and for P1 USA to become part of the company’s marine motorsport marketing platform,” said P1 USA director Azam Rangoonwala. “I’m very excited about the prospect of seeing the whole GEICO fleet compete in the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix over the Fourth of July weekend.”
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the second-largest private passenger auto insurance company in the United States. GEICO, which was founded in 1936, provides millions of auto insurance quotes to U.S. drivers annually. The company is pleased to serve more than 13 million private passenger customers, insuring more than 22 million vehicles (auto & cycle).
