FOND DU LAC, Wis. — Latvian driver Victor Kunitch drove his Formula One tunnel boat to victory at the fourth annual Mediterranean Grand Prix, Sunday, July 1 in Sardinia. Kunitch held off a tremendous charge in the final six laps to take his first ever U.I.M. F1 World Championship victory. The race was round six of the 2001 Union International Motonautique (U.I.M.) Formula 1 World Championship for power boating.

Kunitch, who qualified second on the pole, chased series points leader Guido Cappellini into the first corner at the start. He fell back to seventh position after being washed down by Cappellini's rooster tail and losing site of the course. Cappellini, winner of four straight events coming into the race, held a five-second margin over second place holder Laith Pharaon of Saudi Arabia. Cappellini, coming up fast on back marker Paul Gaiser, barrel rolled going into turn eight of the 2.5 kilometer course

Pharaon took the lead on the restart, with Kunitch sneaking
past American Scott Gillman and Italian Massimo Roggiero into second position. Kunitch eventually took the lead from Pharaon. Japanese driver Yutaka Sugihara crashed on the right-handed turn seven, close to the spot that forced his teammate Cappellini to the trailer.

The race ran under the caution flag for five laps, allowing officials to clean up debris from Sugihara accident. With six laps remaining, Kunitch bolted to the lead on the second restart, battling both Pharaon and Gillman into the first turn. Kunitch held his lead. Pharaon and Gillman fought for second place until Pharaon suffered mechanical problems on the final lap. Gillman's second place finish marks his first finish of the 2001 season. Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne took third.

The next stop in the 2001 U.I.M. Formula 1 World Championship in the Grand Prix of Germany, August 5 in Stralsund.