Cigarette working with Formula 1 on Miami Race

Legendary performance-boat manufacturer Cigarette Racing Team, which is based in Opa Locka, Fla., is working with the city of Miami and with Formula 1 racing officials to help bring a car race to South Florida in 2020.

Cigarette has had a long-term cross-promotional relationship with AMG Mercedes including a number of one-off AMG-inspired boats that the company usually unveils at the Miami International Boat Show. Formula 1 officials were at last February’s show in the AMG 515 Project One boat and the two parties started talking about Cigarette getting more involved with bringing an F1 race to Miami. Mercedes also has a team competing in F1.

The planning has been going on for approximately 18 months. This past weekend, Formula 1 held its final Fan Festival of the year in Miami. The event featured a simulcast of the United States Grand Prix that was held at the same time in Austin, Texas. Two-time F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, who is also a performance-boat enthusiast, drove one of his McLaren M23 cars along the streets of Miami and many other classic cars were on display.

Cigarette Racing Team had one of its boats on display and had a booth during the weekend-long event that was held in Bay Front Park.