2010 UIM F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Grand Prix of China, Linyi – October 2-3, round 3 of 8
For immediate release
Saturday, October 2nd, 2010
QATAR TEAM’S PRICE QUALIFIES IN SECOND
POSITION FOR LINYI’S GRAND PRIX OF CHINA
· Team Qatar’s Andy Elliott set to start Linyi race from 18th place
· Alex Carella seizes Pole Position for Sunday’s Grand Prix of China
· Qatar’s Khalid Saleh Al-Shamlin qualifies fifth for cancelled F4 race
LINYI (China): Team Qatar’s Jay Price and Andy Elliott will start Sunday’s Grand Prix of China in Linyi from second and 18th positions after Saturday’s thrilling time trials on the Yihe River.
Italian Alex Carella set the first Pole Position time of his short career in the third round of the UIM F1 World Championship with a lap of 49.68s. Price overcame a stomach upset to win both the first and second qualifying sessions in stunning style and was edged out of Pole Position near the finish of the third session when he ran wide to try and find clear water and was unable to pass a flying Carella.
The first of the new 20-minute F4 races was cancelled because of several yellow and red flag delays, although Qatar’s F4 rookie Khalid Saleh Al-Shamlin had qualified in fifth position for the exciting new race series which runs in conjunction with the remaining six rounds of the UIM F1 World Championship.
“Under the circumstances we are delighted that Jay could finish in second position today,” said Khalid Bin Arhama Al-Kuwari, Head of Formula Racing at the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF). “He has been sick for two days and under medication from the doctor. He has not been fully fit, but to come out and record such good times was a terrific achievement. Now he can rest this evening and we hope he can come out on Sunday and fight for the outright win.”
Qualifying
The first 20 minutes of the time trial session would eliminate the slowest five boats from the 20-strong field. Price and Elliott needed a good start. Alex Carella laid down the gauntlet after three minutes with a lap of 52.34s and Price slotted into second position with 52.65s, despite felling unwell during the preparations for race weekend.
Price was soon overhauled by Francesco Cantando, Sami Selio and Ahmed Al-Hameli and slipped to fifth position. Elliott was still to take to the water, but eventually set about qualifying for the top 10 with 10 minutes to go in the session. Price began to press the pedal to the metal and a lap of 50.73s put the former World Champion to the top of the leader board. Elliott clocked 57.94s, but was unable to improve on 18th position and was eliminated before the second qualifying session.
Price needed to maintain his composure through the second 15-minute qualifying session and he started superbly, posting a 51.03s in the first few minutes of the session to seize the top spot again in improving weather conditions. The Qatar driver maintained the top spot to give him a perfect confidence boost before the all-important third qualifying session.
The times were reset again and the surviving 10 boats faced a 10-minute shoot-out to determine the Pole Position Championship points and the line-up for Sunday’s race. Price posted a potent 50.57s tour to set the early pace, with Selio slotting into second position. But Carella managed to squeeze into the lead with a 50.26s and Cantando overhauled Selio to take third.
Price was not to be denied and set a sensational lap of 49.92s to regain provisional pole position, with Selio surging into second place. But Carella went one better to record a 48.68s and oust the Qatar Team driver again in the dying minutes of the thrilling session.
F4 and first free practice
Sweden’s Oskar Samuelsson set the fastest time in the first ever F4 time trials. The Team Rainbow rookie set a time of 1m 12.06s. Qatar’s Al-Shamlin posted the fifth fastest time of 1m 19.27s, although he had improved from sixth position in the first free practice on the Linyi course on Saturday morning.
The first ever F4 race was yellow and red flagged when Stefan Hagin’s boat failed to start and became stranded in the middle of the course. Proceedings eventually got underway, but there were further delays and the decision was taken to cancel the opening race.
Price and Elliott recorded the sixth and 16th fastest times in the morning’s first F1 free practice session. Price ran for just five laps and set a quickest tour of 52.43s, although Elliott was able to manage 19 laps on the water with his Dragon boat. Team Abu Dhabi’s Ahmed Al-Hameli set the fastest time of the stint.
Grand Prix of China – 3rd time trial shoot-out results for Pole Position
1. Alex Carella (I) Team Mad Croc 49.68s
2. Jay Price (QA) |Team Qatar 49.92s
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Team Mad Croc 50.24s
4. Ahmed Al-Hameli (UAE) F1 Team Abu Dhabi 50.44s
5. Francesco Cantando (I) Singha F1 Racing Team 50.76s
6. Thani Al-Qamzi (UAE) F1 Team Abu Dhabi 50.94s
7. Fabio Comparato (I) 800 Doctor 50.97s
8. Jonas Andersson (S) Team Azerbaijan 51.65s
9. Tim Seebold (USA) Team Abu Dhabi 51.92s
10. Phillipe Chiappe (F) CTIC China Team 52.46s
18. Andy Elliott (GB) Team Qatar 57.94s
2010 UIM F1 Pole Position Championship – standings after round 3 (unofficial)
1. Sami Selio (FIN) Team Mad Croc 41 pts
2. Ahmed Al-Hameli (UAE) F1 Team Abu Dhabi 39 pts
3. Alex Carella (I) Team Mad Croc 36 pts
4. Francesco Cantando (I) Singha F1 Racing Team 32 pts
5. Jay Price (QA) |Team Qatar 27 pts
6. Duarte Bevenente (P) F1 Atlantic Team 12 pts
7. Fabio Comparato (I) 88 Doctor 7 pts
8. Phillipe Chiappe (F) CTIC China Team 5 pts
8. Thani Al-Qamzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi 5 pts
Ends
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