Focus On: Hannes Bohinc

Both in business and racing, 49 year old Hannes ‘Bison’ Bohinc, has been served well by his “NO RISK NO FUN” philosophy. Bohinc’ is a successful entrepreneur who started in business at the age of 18 when he set up a motorcycle shop, enabling him to combine his two passions, racing and business. Today, he resides over one of Europe’s largest sports betting companies, ‘wettpunkt’, with interests in Europe and South America. Hannes’s nickname ‘Bison’ is very apt as he has established the largest breed of Bison in Europe. Despite the demands of his business life, he continues to find the time to maintain his love affair with offshore powerboat racing which began in 1992. One of the most distinguished racers in world powerboating, Bohinc has also experienced his share of drama, most notably when racing in the UIM Class 2 World Championships in Buenos Aires in 1997, when his boat overturned and stuck in the mud of the river bottom, jamming the canopy hatches shut. “I was leading coming to the last lap, and then the steering failed; we rolled and it quickly developed into a terrible situation. It was not deep enough to open the hatch, so I was eight minutes without oxygen before the divers came and took me out. I was clinically dead.” Bohinc has won the Harmsworth Trophy, the Powerboat P1 World Championship, his class in the Venice to Montecarlo and Montecarlo – Porto Cervo – Montecarlo events, was awarded the Martini Trophy in 1994, and has won bronze and silver medals at the Superboat World Championships in the USA. He was also part of the crew that set a new ‘Round Britain’ world record of 30hours 51m 40s aboard the giant Buzzi creation ‘Record’. For 2009, he returns to Powerboat P1, driving the Mercury-powered 1520hp Outerlimits for the Italian OSG Racing Team, alongside Neapolitan, Giancarlo Cangiano. Surprisingly, this will be the first time that Hannes Bohinc has raced a non diesel-powered craft. He has stood on the winner’s podium almost every year since his racing debut when he won the Venice – Montecarlo Marathon and the Martini Endurance Trophy of Sport category. Bohinc is one of only six drivers to have won the ‘Cowes-Torquay-Cowes’ twice and one of only ten who have won the Harmsworth trophy more than once. Other achievements include; 2nd overall and winner of the 1998 Sport Category in the Venice-Monte Carlo Endurance Race, 2001 winner of the UIM Endurance WC and EC in Sport Category, and winner of the Naples Cup and Centenary Harmsworth Trophy with ‘wettpunkt.com’ in 2003. In 2005 he throttled ‘‘wettpunkt.com’’ to glory in the Evolution Class of the Powerboat P1 World Championship. Two years later he won 5 stages of the 2008 Round Britain, and now, P1’s most distinguished powerboat racer returns to the World Championship for yet another high speed adventure.

Why is the 2005 P1 evolution World ChamPion returning to P1?

 Last year I competed with my boat, ‘wettpunkt.com’, in the Round Britain and my appetite for racing at the top level returned. P1, if it lives up to its pre season PR, has the quantity of races and quality of boats in 2009 to provide the best possible test of any powerboater wishing to compete on the international stage.

Why did you decide not to race your own boat, ‘WettPunkt.Com’?

Firstly, it did no t make financial sense in such an ec onomic downturn to assemble a team, crew and engine p ackage capable of winning races in P1 when the oppor tunity existed to race with OSG Racing. OSG is a s trong team, Giancarlo Cangiano is quick and he has a fast boat. Secondly, ‘wettpunkt.com’ is diesel-powered and P1 is no t particularly diesel-friendly. The layout of the courses and the rule s governing weight make it difficult to compete at the front.

So why osg and Cangiano?

 I have always respected Cangiano. He started late but was a quick learner and soon was competing to win. This impressed me greatly. We have competed against each other since 2002. He has a very professional attitude, and this is also reflected in his team, OSG Racing. He spoke to me about my plans, I explained my situation, and he invited me to join him. He is a true gentleman and I look forward to racing alongside him.

Do you feel that you can Win the P1 Evolution Class?

We are both world champions so why not? It is never easy to predict, there is so much to consider, and all world champions rely on good fortune at some point in the season. Our boat engine package is top class and should be reliable. Neither Cangiano nor I go racing just to make up the numbers!

Which events are you particularly looking forward to?

Malta is a particular favourite. The people are very hospitable, I have business commitments there, and we always get a warm welcome. The first event is always special and a gr eat opportunity to set out our in tentions for the season. I hope the f inal event in Bahrain will be e ven more special for OSG Racing, but tha t will be determined by our speed and c onsistency in the preceding events. Istanbul and Go thenburg promise much and will be in teresting places to visit and race.

What are your plans for the British races?

My intention in 2009 has been to race ‘wettpunkt.com’ in the British classics, although unfortunately at this moment in time we have not found an engine package suitable for our perfect boat. We are still looking although time is now against us. I have always enjoyed racing in Britain at events such as the Cowes Torquay Cowes. These classic endurance events are steeped in history and have always played an important part in shaping the future development of the sport and its technology. I want to be involved for the competition, the challenge, the British powerboat racing heritage and for my love of racing. When event organisation is in the hands of people who have the passion for the sport and an understanding of how best to implement sensible, practical rules that do not penalise those who choose to race with diesel engines, then these people deserve the support of us competitors.

Would you race with Cangiano at Cowes?

If ‘wettpunkt.com’ is ready to race we would like to invite Cangiano to race with us. He loves racing at Cowes, has had a great record of success there, and he throws the best mozzarella party in the town. Last time he raced there he imported 30 kilos of the finest mozzarella from Naples and invited half the town to his party. It might mean that we are carrying extra ballast in the race, but anyone who has tasted Italy’s finest mozzarella will know it’s a sacrifice worth making!

How do you balance business with sport?

 The balance gets harder each year. As our business continues to develop the demand on time increases for everyone associated with ‘wettpunkt.com’ and Play4win. From November to March there is little time for pleasure, so when Spring arrives I am ready for sun, sea and racing. A powerboat weekend is very intense and allows me to switch off from the business whilst enjoying the atmosphere, racing and usually good weather.

What about the future?

Just now my passion to race is strong, as is my appetite to win. In the future I will continue to race all the time I have the passion – even if the focus changes. We have always been single-minded in our challenge to prepare a team, boat and crew capable of winning. Perhaps in the future we may put greater emphasis on the enjoyment of participation, who knows! Looking further forward, I would love to introduce my sons, Ryan, 17, and Warren, 15, to the sport. It may be that they do not discover the same passion for racing, but if they do, perhaps one day we could look at this.