The inaugural Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan got underway on Thursday, July 30, with a press conference on the shores of Issyk-Kul lake, bringing together championship officials, local government representatives, and three F1H2O drivers.
Eduard Kubatov, Director of the Kyrgyz State Agency for Tourism Development, spoke with evident pride about how rapidly the paddock facility had taken shape, describing it as a venue now equipped to host sporting and cultural events of global significance. He also drew attention to the care being taken to protect the lake's unique ecology, and acknowledged the volunteers involved in clean-up work in the weeks leading up to the event.
Environmental stewardship was a recurring theme. Championship founder Nicolò di San Germano reinforced Kubatov's position, noting his personal commitment to clean water, the very resource the sport depends on. He also marked the historical significance of the occasion, with F1H2O racing in Central Asia for the first time in its four-decade history.
CEO Raimondo di San Germano was direct about expectations for what comes next, saying he is confident this will not be the last Grand Prix in the region. He pointed to interest already received from representatives of other Central Asian countries looking to host rounds of their own, adding that Kyrgyzstan should take considerable pride in having demonstrated the region's readiness for events of this scale.
Drivers Shaun Torrente, Stefan Arand, and Marit Stromoy took questions from the international and local press, speaking to their ambitions for the race and the season as a whole. The full driver roster gets its first look at Issyk-Kul's racing conditions when free practice sessions run on Friday, July 31.
