DOHA, Qatar (November 19, 2009) H1 Unlimited announced today that after five years it is retiring the name American Boat Racing Association (ABRA) and will officially be known simply as H1 Unlimited.

Citing the international expansion of the sport into the Middle East and beyond the board of directors approved the name change.

“Our racing series long ago accomplished the mission implied by our old name and with the beginning of the racing series internationally we need a name that more closely represents our new global reach,” said Sam Cole, Chairman of H1 Unlimited.

Sam Cole (l) chairman of the H1 Unlimited and Sami Abu Shaikha from the U.I.M. revealed the logo at a press conference in Doha.  Photo by Bill Osborne/H1 Unlimited. Click on image for larger version.

During a press conference prior to the start of today’s qualifying for the inaugural Oryx Cup UIM World Championship the announcement was made along side Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al Thani, host of the Oryx Cup and President of Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF).

“We are honored to be able to make this new announcement, creating a new ‘brand ‘ for our sport which reflects our status as the number one hydroplane sport in the world,” Cole said.

Cole and Sheikh Hassan agree the series presence in Doha, Qatar signifies the growth beyond being known as just an American sport.

As Cole and the H1 Unlimited board of director’s studied various racing entities around the world it became important to focus on developing a brand name for these powerboats rather than creating another association acronym.

Other highly popular powerboat racing series Class One (offshore), P1 (offshore) and F1 (tunnel boats), are international in scope and enjoy immediate recognition internationally.

The legal structure of H1 Unlimited has not changed, the board will remain the same and the series will run under the sanction of the American Power Boat Association based in Eastpointe, Mich.

After qualifying is completed on Thursday, preliminary heat races will be held on Friday (11/20) and Saturday (11/20) with an end of day Saturday winner-take-all final for the UIM World Championship.

Live streaming broadcast can be seen at www.abrahydroplanes.com

Reporters and Editors are encouraged to visit H1 Unlimited’s current web site (www. abrahydroplanes.com) while the new name change takes effect (www.abrahydroplanes.com) over the next few months.