MEDIA INFORMATION
2015 UIM XCAT WORLD SERIES
Dubai Grand Prix, round 5 – November 19-21, 2015
TEAM ABU DHABI’S AL-TAYER AND AL-MANSOORI
FACE CRUCIAL XCAT RACE CHALLENGE IN DUBAI
XDubai’s Al-Zafeen and Bin Hendi hold 23-point series lead heading to home race
Abu Dhabi Team to enter second XCAT boat for Majed and Rashed Al-Qemzi
DUBAI (UAE): Monday, November 16: If Team Abu Dhabi is to add the 2015 UIM XCAT World Series title to the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship it won earlier this month, Rashid Al-Tayer and Faleh Al-Mansoori will need to be on top form and ahead of the game at this weekend’s Dubai Grand Prix. Racing takes place from Thursday to Saturday (November 19-21).
Based out of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC), the Abu Dhabi duo arrive at Mina Seyahi for the crucial penultimate round of one of the most popular race championships in the world lying second in the points’ standings.
Four rounds have come and gone this season and a successful race outing last time out on Australia’s scenic Gold Coast has given XDubai’s Arif Saif Al-Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi a 23-point lead in the series.
The defending champions have 131 points and will be strong favourites to win on home waters as well, but Al-Tayer and Al-Mansoori are more than capable of matching and beating them and taking the outcome of the world title to the final round the following weekend in the UAE’s commercial capital and their home waters.
“We know it’s not going to be easy at all, but we are aware of the task in hand and the whole team is feeling confident after the successes in Class 1,” said Al-Tayer. “XDubai and Team Abu Dhabi have been closely matched this season. We need to remain focused and ensure that the world title is decided in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month.”
The Abu Dhabi Team has also entered a second XCAT for the race and Majed and Rashed Al-Qemzi have been selected to drive.
Several other teams will be looking to spoil the UAE party: the experienced Italian duo of Matteo Nicolini and Tomaso Polli lie third in the championship at the helm of their twin-engined Six/Hoorsenbuhs race craft and are a mere five points behind Team Abu Dhabi. Victory for the Italians in Dubai would throw the title race wide open after four thrilling races so far this season in Fujairah, Dubai, Portugal and Australia.
These three teams have been the class of an impressive field so far this season and up to 14 boats are expected to take to the water for practice, qualifying, the Dubai Duty Free Speed Car Run and the Dubai Grand Prix over three days of racing at Mina Seyahi, starting on Thursday and culminating with the Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon.
Team Abu Dhabi is supported by Etihad Airways as official carrier and sponsor. The team runs under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan, advisor to the Head of State and chairman of the board of directors of the ADIMSC.
2015 UIM XCAT WORLD SERIES – positions after round 4:
1. XDubai 131 pts
2. Team Abu Dhabi 108 pts
3. Six/Hoorsenbuhs 103 pts
4. Swecat Racing 69 pts
5. Dubai 64 pts
6. Yacht s 57 pts
7. Marine Investimenti Sud 53 pts
8. Lady Spain 52 pts
9. T-Bone Station 48 pts
10. Team Saracen Australia 44 pts
11. Videx 39 pts
12. Gold Coast Australia 31 pts
13. Mouawad 50 24 pts
14. Global Marine 24 pts
15. Raheeb 23 pts
– Ends –
For further media information and information about Team Abu Dhabi:
Please contact: Khalid Al Saadi, Media Incharge, Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, P.O. Box 45656, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Mobile Telephone: + 971 50 768 6761, E-mail: alsaadi@adimsc.ae.
www.xcatracing.com
www.adimsc.ae