ABU DHABI: The Qatar Team’s Alex Carella could clinch his second successive UIM F1 H20 World Championship title at the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.
With the absence of Team Abu Dhabi’s Ahmed Al Hameli, Carella can clinch the world title if neither Frenchman Phillipe Chiappe nor Finn Sami Selio finish on the podium.
Qatar-backed Carella holds a nine-point lead over the absent Al Hameli.
He also has an 11 point advantage over Chiappe and is 18 points in front of Selio.
The Qatar Marine Sports Federation’s (QMSF) head of formula racing Khalid bin Arhama Al Kuwari has recruited the services of American driver Terry Rinker to join the Qatar Team for the last two races of the season in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
This to assist Carella’s cause, following the suspension of team-mate Shaun Torrente’s licence after a driving infringement in China. Al Kuwari admits that the Qatar Team has carried out many hours of dynamometer testing in preparation for the back-to-back UAE races, but the boats have been in a container at sea since the race in China and actual boat testing has been impossible.
“We have not been to any race in the past few years without many new components to test,” said Al Kuwari.
“That is what keeps us at the top of this game. Insha’allah, we will have the world title again in 2012,” he added.
The Abu Dhabi race also sees the return to F1 H20 action of Qatar’s 2008 World Champion Jay Price with a new Skydive Dubai team and the first appearance for Britain’s Malcolm Goodman.
Meanwhile, Khalid Abdullah Al Kuwari will represent the Qatar Team in the UIM F-4S races for the Eurofin Trophy.
Al Kuwari is currently fifth in the standings.
THE PENINSULA
