NGK Spark Plugs F1 Powerboat Championship Race 4, Pittsburgh, PA 41st EQT Three Rivers Regatta

OSAGE BEACH, Mo., July 25, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Powerboat Championship, now midway through the 2018 season, is set to bring its eminent fleet of high flying racing hulls to Pittsburgh, PA over the weekend of Aug 3-5, 2018 for the 41st EQT Three Rivers Regatta and festival. The Formula 1 boats, reaching speeds of 120+ mph, as well as the smaller 75 mph Formula Lights boats, will be streaking across the Allegheny River during the popular three-day festival.

The adrenaline-packed event is free to the public and is expected to attract approximately 600,000 reveling attendees to Point State Park over the course of the weekend. The EQT Three Rivers Regatta is the largest inland regatta in the United States and has captivated throngs of jubilant fans for over four decades. These fans will be gathered along the Allegheny River shoreline, where the entire family will find ample entertainment with the combination of boat racing, music, food, fireworks and family fun.

The prestige and history of Formula 1 racing at The EQT Three Rivers Regatta began 36 years ago in 1982, when this event became the very first race in the United States for Formula One race boats. At that inaugural race, British driver Roger Jenkins – who would go on to become the 1982 F1 Powerboat World Champion -- won the prestigious Three Rivers Regatta Trophy ahead of Italian racing legend, Renato "The Maestro" Molinari, a driver who eventually earned a total of 18 World Championships during his famed racing career.

The 2018 NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Powerboat Championship series has completed three rounds thus far: Port Neches, TX; Gulfport, FL and Nashville, TN. The circuit will arrive at its fourth stop in Pittsburgh, PA with racer #20 Ashton Rinker of Riverview, Florida sitting at the top of the Formula 1 leaderboard with 718.5 points, just a mere 7.5 points ahead of #2 Tracy Hawkins of Willis, Texas who slipped past Rinker for a 2nd place photo-finish at the previous Nashville race. Talented driver Rinker will be hoping to make his fourth podium appearance in four races! #24 Spencer Love of California, who won in the rough seas of the very challenging Gulfport, FL event, sits in third spot with 663 points.

2018 has produced some of the most intense racing competition this sport has ever seen, with all of the NGK F1 classes seeing multiple winners – including three different Formula 1 Final winners in three races, and six different heat winners in seven heat races!

In Formula Lights class, all eyes will be on opening round winner, #8 Jeremiah Mayo of Richmond, TX who also leads the points chase with 669 points. But hot on his heels will be #40, Austin Cheatham of Hempstead, TX with 586 points, and newcomer, #1 Kelly Ireland of California with 535 points, who won the Formula Lights Final in Gulfport. Just as in the F1 category, the competition in Formula Lights is just as fierce as there have been 5 different winners taking victory in six heat races!

The boat racing is conducted by S.P.O.R.T. (Southern Professional Outboard Racing Tour) sanctioned by the APBA (American Powerboat Association) in cooperation with LionHeart Event Group of Pittsburgh, a full-service event management and production company that specializes in outdoor festivals concerts, sponsorship activation, and signature events.

The EQT Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta, Inc is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organized for the purpose of developing and maintaining programs and projects devoted to water safety, recreation and enhancing public usage of the rivers and waterways of Western Pennsylvania.

For the EQT Three Rivers Regatta race schedule and general festival information, visit: http://yougottaregatta.org

Greenlight TV will film the NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Powerboat Championship racing action all season long, producing six 30-minute shows airing on CBS Sports Network. Full coverage of the races will also stream live from the NGK F1 Powerboat Championship Facebook page. For further information on the NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Powerboat Championship and schedules for the CBS Sports Network TV Show, visit http://www.ngkf1.com or follow the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/NGKF1PowerboatChampionship

2018 The NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Powerboat Championship Racing Schedule:

May 4-6 Port Neches, TX - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydro                 
            http://pnriverfest.com/
June 1-3 Gulfport, FL - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull
            http://www.gulfportgrandprix.com/
June 15-16 Nashville, TN - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydro
            http://thunderonthecumberland.com/
Aug. 3-5 Pittsburgh, PA - F1, F-Light
            http://yougottaregatta.org/
Aug. 10-12 Springfield, OH - F1, F-Light
            http://www.springfieldf1grandprix.com/
Sept. 14-16 Orange, TX - F1, F-Light, Tri Hull, J-Hydro
            http://www.orangetexas.org/sport-tunnel-boat-races/
The NGK Spark Plugs Formula 1 Powerboat Championship is delighted to have the strong commitment of title sponsor, NGK Spark Plugs - The Ignition Specialist. Since 1936, NGK Spark Plugs has been the world leader in technology, innovation, and world-class quality in the design of spark plugs and oxygen sensors. Today, NGK manufactures NGK Spark Plugs and NTK Oxygen Sensors for virtually every automotive manufacturer in the world.

NGK has built a reputation for quality and reliability, and a commitment to excellence continues to be the driving force behind the company's advanced research and development programs.
In North America, NGK is headquartered in Wixom, MI and maintains manufacturing, inventory, and distribution facilities in Irvine, CA, Sissonville, WV, and Chicago, IL.

For more information about NGK Spark Plugs, (U.S.A), Inc., please visit our website http://www.ngksparkplugs.com.

SOURCE NGK Spark Plugs F1 Powerboat Championship

Related Links

http://www.ngkf1.com/