2010 UIM F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Grand Prix of China, Liuzhou – October 16-17, round 4 of 8
For immediate release
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010
QATAR TEAM’S PRICE PREPARES FOR
CRUCIAL F1 CHALLENGE IN LIUZHOU
· Team Qatar’s Andy Elliott keen to add to points tally
· Qatar’s Khalid Saleh Al-Shamlan set for F4 race debut
LIUZHOU (China): Team Qatar’s Jay Price will be leaving nothing to chance when he tackles this weekend’s Grand Prix of China on the Liu River in Liuzhou, the fourth round of the UIM F1 World Championship that he won back in 2008.
Engine management system problems cost Price the chance to reach the podium in Linyi two weeks ago, but Team Qatar know that a podium is crucial in Liuzhou if Price is to stay in contention for a second world title. He currently holds third position in the UIM F1 points’ standings, seven adrift of the tying Team Mad Croc duo of Sami Selio and Alex Carella.
Carella has been the form driver in the last two races, but Price is not surprised. “Alex has been racing in F2 and that is the best training ground for F1,” said the DAC driver. “I don’t really know what caused our engine problems in Linyi, but I trust the mechanics will resolve the problem before the weekend. I was glad to get to the finish two weeks ago and put some points on the board, but I know I need a podium finish because the points are so much higher.”
Price will be supported by Britain’s Andy Elliott in Liuzhou. The pair will be hoping to close the gap on the Mad Croc Team and Team Abu Dhabi in the UIM F1 Teams’ Championship. Last season an accident and engine woes cost Price potential podium finishes in the two Liuzhou races. Elliott, meanwhile, holds 10th position in this year’s UIM F1 Drivers’ Championship.
Khalid Bin Arhama Al-Kuwari, Head of Formula Racing at the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), is confident that Team Qatar can reach the podium in Liuzhou. “Our engine problems in Linyi were mostly as a result of the new ECU rules imposed by the UIM and the teams not understanding what they were voting for. Seven teams changed engines for the final in Linyi and that is proof enough of the problems affecting the ECUs.
“It is critical that we reach the podium in Liuzhou,” adds Al-Kuwari. “If we want to win the World Championship again we must make our move soon. We didn’t get any points from Liuzhou in the two back-to-back races last year and that was a major disappointment for us. But Jay won the race in 2008 and I hope he can repeat that again on Sunday.”
The weekend will also mark the second appearance of young Qatari Khalid Saleh Al-Shamlan in the new F4 category in Qatar 63. He showed an impressive turn of speed in the free practice sessions in Linyi, although both of the F4 races were cancelled and Al-Shamlan will be keen to impress this weekend.
“I think F4 is a fantastic boat class,” enthuses Price. “They look like small F1 boats and give a lot of well needed experience to the up-and-coming drivers. They also add excitement for the spectators during the breaks between the F1 race sessions.”
Liuzhou is a city in the north-central Guangxi Zhuang region of southern China and has a population in excess of four million. It is situated approximately 1,850km from Beijing, 540km from Hong Kong and 1,410km from Shanghai.
Teams will carry out registration and documentation formalities on Friday (October 15th), with free practice and time trials taking place on Saturday and the Grand Prix of China roaring into life on the Liu River on Sunday (October 17th) afternoon.
2010 UIM F1 Pole Position Championship – standings after round 3
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 Benavente (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
2010 UIM F1 World Drivers’ Championship – standings after round 3
1. Sami Selio (FIN) Team Mad Croc 35 pts
1. Alex Carella (I) Team Mad Croc 35 pts
3. Jay Price (QA) Qatar F1 Team 28 pts
4. Francesco Cantando (I) Singha F1 Racing Team 27 pts
5. Thani Al-Qamzi (UAE) F1 Team Abu Dhabi 24 pts
6. Ahmed Al-Hameli (UAE) F1 Team Abu Dhabi 20 pts
7. Pierre Lundin (S) CTIC China Team 12 pts
8. Fabio Comparato (I) 800 Doctor 9 pts
8. Jonas Andersson (S) Team Azerbaijan 9 pts
10. Andy Elliott (GB) Qatar F1 Team 7 pts
11. Davide Padovan (I) Rainbow Team 6 pts
12. Tim Seebold (USA) Team Abu Dhabi 5 pts, etc
Ends
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www.qmsf.org
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