‘MEDIA INFORMATION
2017 UIM F1 H2O WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
18th Grand Prix of Sharjah, UAE – December 13-15
TEAM ABU DHABI’S CARELLA SECURES FOURTH WORLD TITLE WITH START-TO-FINISH VICTORY IN GRAND PRIX OF SHARJAH
· Team Abu Dhabi clinches UIM F1 H2O Teams’ World Championship and UIM Fast Lap Trophy
· Series runner-up Philippe Chiappe finishes third behind Jonas Andersson
· Mohammed Al-Mehairbi secures third in F4-S Trophy: Sharjah GP victory for Mihaldinecz
SHARJAH (UAE): Friday, December 15: Team Abu Dhabi’s Alex Carella delivered a sensational performance to lead from the start to the chequered flag to secure a convincing victory in the 18th Grand Prix of Sharjah and a fourth UIM F1 H20 World Championship title.
Philippe Chiappe of the CTIC Shenzhen China Team could not recover from a disappointing start from fifth position on the pontoon and the three-time champion had to settle for an eventual third position and the runner-up spot in the World Championship after climbing back from as low as eighth in a largely processional race on Khaled Lagoon
.
The Victory Team’s Ahmed Al-Hameli benefited from a superb start to hold second for much of the race until he hit technical trouble and his demise opened the door for Team Sweden’s Jonas Andersson to snatch second spot. Thani and Rashed Al-Qemzi delivered solid performances to reach the finish in third and ninth positions to cap a memorable afternoon for Team Abu Dhabi, with young Rashed claiming his first World Championship points. Poland’s Bartek Marszalek and Chiappe’s team-mate Peter Morin rounded off the top six. But Thani was given a one-lap penalty for jumping the start some minutes after the podium and slipped to sixth and finished fourth in the championship.
To mark a memorable weekend, Team Abu Dhabi also added the UIM F1 H2O Teams’ Championship title for the first time since 2015 to the UIM Pole Position Trophy earned on Thursday and the prestigious UIM F2 World Championship secured by young Rashed Al-Qemzi in Portugal in October. The last drivers’ title won by the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) had been by Scott Gillman back in 2006, the man who Carella joined in the sport’s all-time Hall of Fame with four world titles.
Carella said: “It is a very special feeling. I fight this weekend. I wanted to come out with everything. The work of yesterday paid today and it gave me a perfect place to start. When I heard that Philippe was in eight position I knew I did not want to push too much. I was in perfect control of the race. I was just hoping that nothing would happen.”
Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al-Romaithi and Mohammed Al-Mehairbi finished the final F4-S Trophy race of the season in eighth and ninth positions, but third overall was sufficient for the Victory Team’s Mansoor A-Mansoori to pip Frenchman Jeremy Brisset to the title. Hungarian veteran Rudolf Mihaldinecz led from start-to-finish to pip young Frenchman Tom Chiappe to the overall Grand Prix victory and the race two win. Al-Mehairbi incurred a one-lap penalty for not maintaining his line and duly lost fourth position, although he secured third in the final points’ standings.
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 umbrella of the ADIMSC, board member and general manager Salem Al-Remeithi and team manager Guido Cappellini.
“We devote this fantastic victory for Team Abu Dhabi to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces,” said His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan.
“We also dedicate this success to the Supreme Council members, Rulers of the Emirates, Crown Prince, Ruler’s Deputies and the people of the UAE. It is a terrific achievement to win the world title after 11 years and marks an historic day of celebration for the team in Sharjah. We are also proud that Emirati drivers and growing young talent played a significant contribution to the team’s success in dominating three major disciplines in the championship. This is no mean feat and something we look forward to defending next season.”
Salem Al-Remeithi added: “Our team deserved the success this year. This is an achievement for the whole UAE and we are proud to have succeeded in the championship. Our team deserves to be number one and can climb on to the podium with pride. To earn the three victories in the Drivers’ Championship, the Teams’ Championship and the Pole Position Trophy is a fantastic achievement by our team.”
An emotional Cappellini said: “Incredible, incredible. To win the last race in the World Championship is the best possible thing you can do to win the title. We had two boats on the podium (until the lap penalty) and Rashed gains his first ever points. For me, it is one incredible day.”
18th Grand Prix of Sharjah
Nineteen boats lined up on the pontoon for the 45-lap showdown to decide the outcome of a fascinating World Championship. Sami Selio was not able to start, Shaun Torrente used a spare Moore boat after his morning’s practice crash and Erik Edin fitted a near-standard engine after suffering a failure in the morning. Grant Trask and Duarte Benavente also changed engines and started at the rear of the field.
Carella lined up on the pontoon followed by Stark, Marszalek, Al-Hameli and Chiappe, with Rashed and Thani Al-Qemzi climbing to 10th and 11th. A trouble free start was crucial and the series leader made it safely through the opening turn to maintain his lead although Al-Hameli managed to find a way to overtake Stark and Marszalek to snatch second position Chiappe slipped to eighth and Thani and Rashed Al-Qemzi held fifth and 14th.
The Team Abu Dhabi driver extended his lead to 3.75 seconds through five laps, as Al-Hameli, Stark, Andersson and Thani Al-Qemzi rounded off the top five. Torrente began his climb through the field and snatched 11th and Rashed Al-Qemzi moved up to 13th, but Chiappe continued to slip further behind and trailed the leader by 24.58sec after eight laps. Francesco Cantando and Matthew Palfreyman (electrical) both retired.
The leaders held station through 13 laps and Carella’s lead edged out to 4.80sec, as Rashed Al-Qemzi moved up to 12th after Torrente withdrew his Moore with engine issues and returned to the pits. The Italian’s lead grew to 7.26sec after 18 laps, as the leading duo gradually pulled clear of Stark, Andersson and Al-Qemzi and Chiappe’s title dream began to fade. Mike Szymura and Cédric Deguisne (engine) joined the growing list of retirements.
At the halfway point, Carella’s lead was reduced to 3.95sec as he continue to close in and pass the tail enders, but Stark’s brave run ended on lap 29 when the Swede retired with a broken propeller blade and Andersson inherited third behind Carella and Al-Hameli, with Al-Qemzi and Barszalek moving up to fourth and fifth and Chiappe creeping in front of Filip Roms and into sixth before the Finn pulled out on lap 34.
With 10 laps to go, Andersson passed Al-Hameli to snatch second position, but Carella’s lead had grown to 23.68sec. Chiappe continued to climb and he overtook Marszalek to secure fifth and he snatched fourth when Al-Hameli slipped out of contention.
There were no last minute dramas for Carella and the triumphant Team Abu Dhabi driver reached the chequered flag to secure the world title by the margin of 16.03 seconds, with Andersson, Thani Al-Qemzi and Chiappe rounding off the top four and Rashed Al-Qemzi clinching his first points in ninth. But Thani Al-Qemzi was given a one-lap penalty for a jump start some minutes after the race and slipped to sixth, with Chiappe inheriting third.
Practice
Friday morning’s one-hour practice session marked the last opportunity to get the boat set-up perfect for the race. Several drivers placed more importance on it than others and Marit Strømøy carded the fastest lap of 46.95sec after running 31 tours of the course. Stark was second, but Rashed and Thani Al-Qemzi ran their DACs for just 14 and six laps and were classified in third and eighth positions. Series leader Carella ran at a slow pace for six laps but took no risks on the course.
Selio and Marszalek sat out the session, but Matthew Palfreyman ran for a short time to test out the Dragon before his GP race debut and suffered ongoing engine issues. Grant Trask was towed off the course after stopping with technical woes and a spectacular spin and flip involving Shaun Torrente’s Victory DAC brought out a second yellow flag with 18 minutes of the session to run. Erik Stark also encountered minor electrical issues and was towed back to the pits.
F4-S – race 2
Rudolf Mihaldinecz nosed ahead of Mohammed Al-Mehairbi and Tom Chiappe at the start pontoon, as title rivals Mansoor Al-Mansoori and Jeremy Brisset started in fifth and fourth positions. The 57-year-old Hungarian began to extend his advantage as Chiappe and Al-Mansoori moved ahead of Al-Mehairbi through the opening turns.
The race developed into a procession for the next few laps until Louise Vella found a way passed Brisset on lap 15 to snatch fifth and the leader began to lap the tail-enders. Mihaldinecz survived a scare on lap 20 to secure victory over Chiappe by the margin of 9.11 seconds and third place was sufficient for Al-Mansoori to claim the world title from Brisset and Al-Mehairbi, but the latter was docked one lap for a lane infringement and Vella moved up to fourth place.
Brisset managed to keep his title hopes alive by taking the wheel of Corentin Guesnel’s Maverick ASV for the final race of the season. It gave the Frenchman the opportunity to try and pip Al-Mansoori to the title – 11 points separated them at the start of the day. Chiappe topped the times in the morning’s practice session in a time of 50.18sec, with Wu Bingchen and Vella in second and third and Al-Mehairbi and Al-Romaithi classified in fifth and eighth.
The timed trials took on extra significance on this occasion. Mihaldinecz spoiled the party with the pole position-winning lap of 50.11sec. Al-Mehairbi slotted into second and Chiappe was third but title rivals Al-Mansoori and Brisset qualified fifth and fourth, respectively.
2017 Grand Prix of Sharjah – race result:
1. Alex Carella (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi 45 laps
2. Jonas Andersson (SWE) Team Sweden @16.03sec
3. Philippe Chiappe (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team @20.06sec
4. Bartek Marszalak (POL) Blaze F1 Team @20.68sec
5. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team @27.36sec
6. Thani Al-Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi L1
7. Grant Trask (AUS) F1 Atlantic Team L1
8. Marit Strømøy (NOR) Emirates Racing Team L1
9. Rashed Al-Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi L2
10. Duarte Benavente (PRT) F1 Atlantic Team L2
11. Erik Edin (SWE) Team Sweden L2
Ahmed Al-Hameli (UAE) Victory Team DNF
Filip Roms (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team DNF
Erik Stark (SWE) Team Sweden DNF
Mike Szymura (DEU) Emirates Racing Team DNF
Cédric Deguisne (FRA) Maverick F1 Team DNF
Shaun Torrente (USA) Victory Team DNF
Francesco Cantando (ITA) Blaze F1 Team DNF
Matthew Palfreyman (GBR) Emirates Racing Team DNF
Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team DNS
Béranger Robert (FRA) Maverick F1 Team DNS
2017 UIM F1 H2O World Championship – final positions:
1. Alex Carella (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi 90pts
2. Philippe Chiappe (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team 71pts
3. Erik Stark (SWE) Team Sweden 49pts
4. Thani Al-Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi 34pts
5. Jonas Andersson (SWE) Team Sweden 32pts
6. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team 30pts
6. Ahmed Al-Hameli (UAE) Victory Team 30pts
8. Shaun Torrente (USA) Victory Team 28pts
9. Bartek Marszalak (POL) Blaze F1 Team 23pts
10. Marit Strømøy (NOR) Emirates Racing Team 21pts
11. Duarte Benavente (PRT) F1 Atlantic Team 15pts
12. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team 12pts
13. Grant Trask (AUS) F1 Atlantic Team 9pts
14. Filip Roms (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team 8pts
15. Cédric Deguisne (FRA) Maverick F1 Team 7pts
16. Mike Szymura (DEU) Emirates Racing Team 4pts
17. Francesco Cantando (ITA) Blaze F1 Team 2pts
17. Rashed Al-Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi 2pts
2017 F4-S Trophy – final positions:
1. Mansoor Al-Mansoori (UAE) Victory Team 116pts
2. Jeremy Brisset (FRA) F1 Atlantic Team 100pts
3. Mohammed Al-Mehairbi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi 86pts
4. Louise Vella (AUS) Team Sweden 82pts
5. Rudolf Mihaldinecz (HUN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team 56pts
6. Wu Bingchen (CHN) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team 54pts
7. Corentin Guesnel (FRA) Maverick F1 40pts
8. Tom Chiappe (FRA) Emirates Racing Team 35pts
9. Kalle Viippo (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team 29pts
10. Mohamed Al-Matlae (UAE) Victory Team 17pts
11. Mohamed Al-Yamahi (UAE) Victory Team 16pts
12. Sebastien Haugaard (SWE) Team Sweden 15pts
13. Rashed Al-Romaithi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi 11pts
14. Damon Cohen (AUS) Blaze Performance 8pts
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.
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