MEDIA INFORMATION
UIM F2 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Grand Prix of Denmark – Aalborg, June 15-17
TEAM ABU DHABI’S F2 DREAMS QUASHED AS WEATHER FORCES CANCELLATION OF ROUND TWO IN DENMARK
AALBORG (DENMARK): Sunday, June 17: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al-Qemzi and Rashed Al-Tayer saw all their hard work in qualifying come to nothing when race officials were left with no alternative other than to cancel the Grand Prix of Denmark, the second round of the UIM F2 World Championship, because of hazardous weather conditions on Aalborg’s Limfjord.
The first race at the venue in 30 years started as planned, but a heavy crash involving American Brent Dillard brought out the yellow flag almost immediately and drivers admitted that there was a severe wind chop on the course when the decision was taken to bring the remaining boats back to the start pontoon.
After a lengthy delay and ongoing discussions, race officials were left with no alternative other than to cancel the race meeting for safety reasons. Al-Qemzi said: “I was happy with the boat all through the qualifying sessions and it was a matter of keeping it going for the race. But safety must always come first and this was a decision that was made with careful thought to the race conditions.”
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.
GP of Denmark
Six drivers had been given the opportunity to qualify for the Grand Prix in a 15-minute Repecharge race on Sunday morning. Frode Sundsdal, Uvis Slakteris, Nick Bisterfeld, Sebastien Haugaard, Gavin Bricker and Mansoor Al-Mansoori made it through to the main Grand Prix at the rear of the 20-boat field.
Rashed Al-Qemzi and Rashed Al-Tayer lined up in pole and 10th positions for the start of the race in overcast and windy conditions on the Limfjord after rain showers before the start.
Germany’s Stefan Hagin made a storming start to snatch the lead and the German began to pull away through the opening turns until the yellow flag was raised with Hagin leading from Daniel Segenmark, Ferdinand Zandbergen, Al-Tayer and Al-Qemzi, Al-Tayer making up six places from the start. Brent Dillard was the man involved in the yellow flag incident and the American was sidelined after flipping his boat out of contention in the wind.
Racing could have restarted on lap four but the original start was declared void with a red flag and drivers returned to the start pontoon and reverted back to their pole qualifying order. Al-Qemzi regained his advantage from Tobias Munthe-Kaas and Hagin and Al-Tayer was pushed back to ninth place.
But there was a substantial time delay while race officials waiting for better water conditions with a cut-off of 15.00hrs looming for organisers and Officer of the Day Pelle Larsson unless a new race permit could be issued to extend the duration of the race. Unfortunately, a decision soon followed to cancel the race weekend, marking a third race to be cancelled in the UIM F2 calendar in the space of two seasons.
Action in the UIM F2 World Championship resumes with the Grand Prix of Norway in Tønsberg on August 5-6.
2018 UIM F2 World Championship – positions after round 2:
1. Alberto Comparato (ITA) 20pts
2. Edgaras Riabko (LIT) 15pts
3. Stefan Hagin (DEU) 12pts
4. Rashed Al-Qemzi (UAE) 9pts
5. Tobias Munthe-Kaas (NOR) 7pts
6. Brent Dillard (USA) 5pts
7. Daniel Segenmark (SWE) 4pts
8. Duarte Benavente (PRT) 3pts
9. Oskar Samuelsson (SWE) 2pts
10. Mette Bjerknaes (SWE) 1pt
– 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.adimsc.ae
www.f2worldchamp.com