MEDIA INFORMATION
2016 UIM XCAT WORLD SERIES
Dubai Grand Prix, round 2- April 15-16
TEAM ABU DHABI CLIMBS FROM FIFTH TO SEAL IMPRESSIVE SECOND PLACE IN DUBAI GRAND PRIX
Victory Team’s Al-Zafeen and Bin Hendi win second successive XCAT race
DUBAI (UAE): Friday, April 15: Team Abu Dhabi was in superb form to finish second overall behind the local Victory Team at the Dubai Grand Prix, round two of the UIM XCAT World Series, on Friday. The race was held a day earlier than originally planned at Mina Seyahi to miss forecast adverse weather conditions.
Faleh Al-Mansoori and Rashed Al-Tayer had qualified for the race in fifth place and lined up at the second gate, but a stunning start catapulted them into the early lead, although they eventually reached the chequered flag behind the Victory Team’s Arif Saif Al-Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi. The Dubai crew mastered their long lap strategy well to seal the win.
“We made an amazing start,” said Al-Tayer. “We gave everything and found ourselves in front, but we made a mistake on one of the long laps and we had a big jump on one of the waves and lost some speed.”
Mikael Bengtsson and Erik Stark finished third in Swecat Racing after a tussle with Dubai 33, which struggled to fouth with power steering issues. Gold Coast Australia’s Tom Barry Cotter and Ross Willaton lost engine power and missed out on the possible podium.
Team Abu Dhabi 4’s Rashed Al-Qamzi and Majed Al-Mansoori retired after three laps and were classified in 13th place after qualifying in a similar position.
Team Abu Dhabi is sponsored by Etihad Airways and runs under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan, advisor to the Head of State and chairman of the board of directors of the ADIMSC.
Gold Coast Australia had topped the times in the first official practice session on Thursday afternoon, before the revised time schedule took effect on Friday. Dubai 33 and Lady Spain were second and third quickest. Thirteen of the 14 boats took to the water and Team Abu Dhabi 5 and 4 were registered in seventh and 13th positions.
2016 Dubai Grand Prix – race result (unofficial):
1. Victory Team 16 laps
2. Team Abu Dhabi 5 @ 16.87sec
3. Swecat Racing @ 41.57sec
4. Dubai @ 55.11sec, etc
– 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