The New Zealand SailGP Team is in with a real chance of winning its third successive event in Saint-Tropez this weekend, according to the SailGP fanbase.
Our pre-event podium predictions vote was won by the Kiwis, on the back of their consecutive wins in Plymouth and Copenhagen which has made Peter Burling’s team one of the championship favorites.
Claiming nearly 50 per cent of the fan vote, there is a real belief that New Zealand have what it takes to win the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix – despite the increasingly tricky weather conditions in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
To claim victory in the event, however, the Kiwis will have to navigate six Fleet Races – an extra race has been added to Super Sunday – as well as the three-team winner-takes-all Final, where they are expected to face Australia and Great Britain.
Reigning champions Australia claimed 30 per cent of the vote to qualify for the podium race – no one will ever write Tom Slingsby and his team off – but the still winless in Season 3 Brits are a surprise inclusion in the top-three predictions with 25 per cent of the vote.
Ben Ainslie’s team hasn’t made the top three since Chicago, and didn’t even race at the most recent event in Copenhagen due to serious boat damage – nonetheless, the fans are confident Great Britain can put in a strong showing in the Côte d’Azur to reach the Final.
And if you make it to the Final… well, anything can happen!
Racing takes place in Saint-Tropez between 14:30-16:00 CEST on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are still available for the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix HERE. Full broadcast information and How to Watch details HERE
