2007 UIM F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Grand Prix of Qatar 1, Doha – November 22nd-24th, round 5 of 8
Grand Prix of Qatar 2, Doha – November 25th-27th, round 6 of 8
For immediate release
Wednesday, November 21st, 2007
QATAR MARINE SPORTS FEDERATION
PREPARES FOR FORMULA ONE RACES
Mohammed Al-Jaidah and event officials set up exciting F1 course
QMSF’s Pelle Larsson confident of crucial podium finish for Price
DOHA (Qatar): Two integral members of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation’s official powerboat racing team will be working in very different roles during this weekend’s 3rd Grand Prix of Qatar. While Qatar’s Mohammed Al-Jaidah takes charge of the racing formalities in his role of officer of the day, Sweden’s Pelle Larsson will be trying to ensure that the two Qatar Team BaBa race boats, crewed by American Jay Price and Italian Leo Bonelli, finish as high as possible in the race through his role of F1 team manager.
“If we worked 100% to ensure the best performance in the last two races in China, then we have worked 120% this time to make sure that we perform as best we can,” said a committed Larsson. “This is an open window for our team in Qatar, a chance to advertise our performance, and we don’t want to let anyone down. We have worked on the technical issues that cost us results in China and managed to lose between 10 and 12 kilogrammes from the weight of the boats. This is significant.
“Jay has been preparing hard as well to ensure that he is in top physical condition. In the past we have said to Leo (Bonelli) that the top six is the target, but we feel we are in a good position here and Leo should be aiming for the podium if possible. Jay still has a chance of winning the world title and the podium is a must for him in Doha.”
Larsson admits that he has an excellent working relationship with Mohammed Al-Jaidah and the team at the QMSF, although the Swede is more involved with actual F1 team affairs and driver matters at race meetings. In Doha, Al-Jaidah concentrates on setting up the course and making sure the actual race runs smoothly, under the presidency of His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani.
“We have very different roles at the Federation,” says Al-Jaidah. “I am the manager of all the Formula racing, F1, F2 and things like the pleasure boats. Then I have Pelle as team manager for the F1. I saw his plan of action at the start of the season and we are happy to work to that strategy.
“The Class One racing takes more organisation that the F1. For a start the course is bigger, the boats are larger, we need larger cranes and we have to borrow a lot of equipment from private companies and Government agencies. Once the Class One finishes, I have to round up all the volunteers, thank them for their support and begin to set up the new F1 venue and get together another team of volunteers.
“Because the F1 course is smaller, it is easier to police, but there are often more accidents in F1 racing, sometimes two or three per race. For that reason we have the support of the Osprey Rescue Team and we give them as much help as possible.”
All the mechanics, teams and officials have arrived in Doha to begin their final preparations for the first of the two Qatar race meetings, which begins with time trials and the traditional six-boat shoot-out on Friday, November 23rd. The 3rd Grand Prix of Qatar, round five of the UIM F1 World Championship, gets underway at 14.30hrs on Saturday, November 24th.
Ends
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