FIRST CANADIAN TO COMPETE AT 24 HOUR RACE IN ROUEN, FRANCE

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FIRST CANADIAN TO COMPETE AT 24 HOUR RACE IN ROUEN, FRANCE

Website www.24hourrouenpowerboatrace.com For more information contact us [email protected] [email protected] 815-953-7925

For the first time in the 48-year history of the 24 HEURES MOTONAUTIQUES DE ROUEN in France a Canadian race driver will compete. Powerboat racer, Tammy Wolf will partner with Swedish driver, Bimba Sjoholm, Mette Bjerkness of Norway and Marie-Line Hericher of France. This quartet will make the first International all-female racing teams to race in this male dominated sport.

The two masterminds behind the concept are Olympic Team Rouen-nais Manager, Albert Hericher and Director of Operations, Carl Kinder who hand-picked the top international female inshore (Formula) pilots to compete in arguably the most grueling boat race in the world. "We like the idea of multinational teams," said David Holley, the chief executive officer of global yacht and powerboat logistics and transportation leader Peters & May, in a press release from the company. "Here, we have a global team, all women and the first North American woman to compete at Rouen. It's exciting to be a part of something historic." This Internationally renowned competition is part of the World Long Distance Championship (www.24heuresrouen.com) held, May 26, 27 and 28, 2012 and includes over three day’s of competition.

International media will join over 500,000 spectators, traveling from around the world to watch this legendary event and team. A total of 24 hours of action, driver changes every 2 hours in extremely rough water. Engines, boats, and drivers endure an incredible beating, just to finish is a testament to the drivers and equipment. With a mere 4 weeks remaining until this years 24 Heure Motonautiques de Rouen the International Women’s Team is prepar-ing hard for this event. The marine industries “super-star” line-up of sponsors including Mercury - Canada, Peters and May and Motul the team will compete in Class II (S2000) with a Moore Tunnel Boat and low-emission Mercury Opti-Max motor. Boats reach the turn buoy at up to 120 mph and in a split second; they accelerate out to the next one. These professional drivers can experience up to 4G´s of centrifugal forces as they maneuver around the course.

Website www.24hourrouenpowerboatrace.com For more information contact us [email protected] 815-953-7925

“The 24 Hours of Rouen is legendary in powerboat racing, it is one of the toughest events in history. Mercury is proud to be involved with this event and is thrilled to make history with this extremely talented team.” Georges Jalbert, General Manager, Mercury Canada Rouen is a unique and challenging race, we turn right instead of left, have 4 to 5 foot chop and race under bridges. We have commercial barge traffic on the course with us, and over 45 boats from competing teams. This should be a phenomenal experience as a driver and a wonderful opportunity to represent our sponsors, team, and country.” Tammy Wolf One of the team’s goals is to become as eco-friendly or “green” as possible. The team is supported by companies that work hard to preserve the environment such as Motul and Peters and May. In 2011, Mercury Racing was awarded the Environmental Award for Economic Feasibility and Sustainability by the Union International Motonautique (UIM). The UIM is the world governing body for all power boating activities. Mercury’s environmentally friendly influence in outboard powerboat racing began in 1997 at the 24 Hours of Rouen. Two stock 200hp Mercury OptiMax outboard-powered tunnel boats finished a respectable 4th and 5th overall. In 2000, Mercury made history again in Rouen at the 24 Hour event when low-emission OptiMax-powered boats took first, second and fourth place overall, beating larger-displacement traditional race engines of all competitors. This marked the first time a low-emissions engine had won the event since its 1964 inception. The OptiMax 200XS SST race outboard is currently the dominate motor in Class II at Rouen and will be the engine that will power the Rouen Women’s Team Moore tunnel boat.


Tammy started racing in 1994 and is considered one of the top drivers in her class. This Canadian athlete moved to Illinois in 2008 and has competed in numerous differ-ent classes throughout her career including Formula V, SST 90 and Formula 3. Last season the team won the 2011 Divisional Championship and was presented with the Iron Man award. In 2010, Tammy and the team won the Regional Championship, first runner-up at the National Championships, 3rd place finish at the North American Championships and ranked 2nd in the USA in Formula 3. With all this success, Tammy credits the hard work of her team for there achievements. Tammy is extremely excited and honored to make history and be the first Canadian to compete at this historic event. La Chaine Normande will televise this Mercury sponsored team. In addition, the team will post video blog’s and updates on there social media sites.


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FIRST CANADIAN TO COMPETE AT 24 HOUR RACE IN ROUEN, FRANCE