MEDIA INFORMATION
2015 UIM XCAT WORLD SERIES
Cascais Grand Prix, round 3 – June 14-16
TECHNICAL ISSUES COST TEAM ABU DHABI’S AL-TAYER AND AL-MANSOORIPOTENTIAL PODIUM FINISH IN CASCAIS GRAND PRIX
Cascais race victory for X Dubai’s Al-Zafeen and Bin Hendi; Yacht finishes second
CASCAIS (PORTUGAL): Sunday, June 14th: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashid Al-Tayer and Faleh Al-Mansoori finished fifth overall in Sunday afternoon’s Cascais Grand Prix off the Portuguese coast at Marina de Cascais. The duo had been in a podium position until late technical issues cost them their place in the top three.
X Dubai’s Arif Saif Al-Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi had claimed pole position for the third round of the 2015 UIM XCAT World Series and made a good start in the difficult water conditions and began to edge away from the chasing pack. They held on to take a clear win to heap further pressure on Team Abu Dhabi in the fight for the UIM XCAT World Series title. X Dubai now leads the series by a single point.
T-Bone Station looked set to take second, before late technical issues, and that left the door open for Yacht to finish second and Hoorsenbuhs to finish third. “Obviously it was not the result we were hoping for or expecting, but we held on to reach the finish and collect some more points to keep the title fight alive,” said Team Abu Dhabi’s Al-Tayer.
After qualifying second for Sunday’s Cascais Grand Prix, Team Abu Dhabi went on to finish third in the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run. They were beaten in the semi-final by eventual winners X Dubai, who reduced the Abu Dhabi team’s championship lead to 16 points in the process.
But attention switched to the Cascais Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon and Al-Tayer and Al-Mansoori lined up behind Al-Zafeen and Bin Hendi in second place, with Yacht and T-Bone Station in close attendance, as the delayed start took place in overcast conditions. Marine Investimenti Sud suffered a late scare with an engine issue on the run out to the start and was also awarded a penalty lap. X Dubai held the advantage from Yacht through the start lap, with Team Abu Dhabi and T-Bone Station close behind.
T-Bone Station managed to find a way passed Yacht to take second, but Team Abu Dhabi slipped to fourth place and then behind Hoorsenbuhs and into fifth, although the two boats became embroiled in a gripping tussle for fourth. T-Bone Station retained second behind X Dubai, but Team Abu Dhabi began to pressurise Yacht, despite several hair-raising moments for Al-Tayer and Al-Mansoori in the bumpy water conditions.
Team Abu Dhabi managed to retake third place, but Yacht and Al-Tayer and Al-Mansoori were neck and neck on lap eight in a thrilling spectacle. X Dubai’s lead over T-Bone Station was over 10 seconds after lap eight, as Team Abu Dhabi continued to hold off the fierce challenge from Yacht until their rivals passed them again on the inside on lap 10. But T-Bone Station was forced out with mechanical issues and Yacht inherited second position, with Team Abu Dhabi dropping behind Hoorsenbuhs and Videx with technical issues of their own soon afterwards.
Team Abu Dhabi is based at the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) and 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 Cascais Grand Prix – result:
1. X Dubai 34min 11.9sec
2. Yacht @ 20.53sec
3. Hoorsenbuhs @ 25.64sec
4. Videx @ 34.10sec
5. Team Abu Dhabi @ 57.21sec
6. Swecat Racing @ 1min 45.46sec
7. Dubai @ 1min 49.99sec
8. Marine Investimenti Sud @ 2min 17.80sec
9. Lady Spain @ 3min 11.57sec
10. Team Saracen Australia 1 lap behind
– 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