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MEDIA INFORMATION
2017 UIM F1 H2O WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
16th Grand Prix of Portugal – April 21-23
GALE FORCE WINDS FORCE RACE OFFICIALS TO CANCEL BRM QUALIFIYING IN PORTUGAL
· Team Abu Dhabi forced to be patient until wind abates in Algarve region of Portugal
PORTIMAO (PORTUGAL): Saturday, April 22: Gale force winds and gusts in excess of 70 km/h forced race officials to cancel the first official practice sessions and BRM Qualifying for the 16th Grand Prix of Portugal on Saturday.
Nineteen boats and nine teams will line up for the start of a flagship series run by H2O Racing that will take them to France, China and back to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah for the final two races of the season in December. But the wind was just too strong to permit drivers safely on to the Arade River course on the Algarve.
“The issue was not just the wind. We had the tides to content with and they dictate what we do,” said UIM Commissioner Luis Ribeiro. “Where the circuit is set on the Arade River means we only go out at high tide or just below that period because of the depth of water.”
Team Abu Dhabi is fielding three DAC boats for Italian Alex Carella, and the Emirati duo of Thani Al-Qemzi and Rashed Al-Qemzi. They will be joined in the F4-S support races by Mohammed Al-Mehairbi in a revised and busy timetable of events on the 1.937km, seven-pin salt water course on Sunday,
Etihad Airways is the official carrier for Team Abu Dhabi that is also supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and 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 Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club and under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan, Vice-President and CEO of the ADIMSC. The racing team runs under the auspices of the ADIMSC and board member and general manager Salem Al-Remeithi and team manager Guido Cappellini.
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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.
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