International Hot Rod Association has acquired Powerboat P1 USA / P1 Offshore for an undisclosed amount. This transaction marks a significant expansion for the International Hot Rod Association, a prominent entity in land-based motorsports, into the marine racing sector. Powerboat P1 USA / P1 Offshore, commonly known as P1, is recognized as the world's largest marine motorsport brand, responsible for promoting racing events from national to global levels.
Since its inception in 2003, P1 has successfully promoted more than 300 national and 85 world racing events. The company holds a long-term exclusive world championship licence with the UIM, powerboating’s international governing body, which underpins its structured racing products such as P1 SuperStock and P1 AquaX. P1’s extensive global reach is further solidified by its operations across offices in London, Singapore, Orlando, and Mumbai. The company utilizes advanced production technology to deliver worldwide TV broadcasts, reaching over 31 million viewers in 180 countries via more than 100 different channels, including Eurosport, Sky Sports, and RAI.
This acquisition is a strategic move for the International Hot Rod Association, allowing it to diversify its portfolio beyond its traditional land-based racing events and capitalize on P1’s established expertise and global footprint in marine motorsports. Expected synergies include the cross-promotion of events to broader fan bases, leveraging P1’s advanced media production and global broadcast capabilities, and enhancing overall sponsorship and commercial partnership opportunities across both land and water racing disciplines.
The integration is anticipated to create a more comprehensive motorsports organization, combining IHRA’s operational framework with P1’s specialized marine racing knowledge and global media distribution. The combined entity is poised to offer a wider array of high-performance racing events, driving growth and innovation across diverse motorsport categories. This aims to enrich the fan experience and attract new audiences globally by building on shared best practices in event management and execution.