The countdown is on for the 38th annual P1 Offshore Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix. From June 30-July 2 at Lido Beach, residents and visitors can catch more than 60 powerboat racing teams from Europe, Australia, Canada and the U.S..

A pit party at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall will kick off the festivities at 6 p.m. on Friday evening, with live music from Andy Velo, a live remote radio broadcast, food trucks and local vendors. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the race teams and view the boats up close. The six-mile races will begin at Lido Beach at 1 p.m. on Saturday, with the qualifying session for the Class 1 powerboats at 2 p.m. On Sunday, the action will begin at 10 a.m. with the fleet of Class 1 boats on the water at 1 p.m. Races will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and Bally Sports Regional Networks in the U.S., as well as on global sports channels.

In response to the weekend's environmental impact on marine life—including nesting sea turtles—P1 CEO Azam Rangoonwala says that the organization "will also be actively involved with environmental initiatives," including  "joining forces" with Audubon Florida’s coastal bird stewardship program to highlight the colony of protected black skimmers that nest on Lido Key.

"We have developed a corporate environmental policy and implement effective programs as an integral part of our business strategy," Rangoonwala says. "On race weekends, we monitor marine animal activity in the race area with observers on boats, on the land and in a helicopter reporting any sightings such as dolphins, manatees and turtles. They have the authority to stop the racing if necessary.”  

“Sarasota is an idyllic venue with a rich, storied history of powerboat racing," says P1 USA Championship Manager Michelle Petro. "We will be celebrating a special milestone on the Saturday when we stage our 700th race since we began racing 20 years ago. I’m keen for fellow Floridians and tourists to experience everything the Grand Prix weekend has to offer.”  

For more information and to purchase tickets for access to the beachfront hospitality tent, visit p1offshore.com.