ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Saturday, April 10, 2010 – The race organization that conquered the Team Title but came up short in earning a World Title for one of its drivers last season, Team Abu Dhabi, is going to great lengths to change that result for the 2010 season. Their first step in turning their luck around is the unveiling of their new paint design on their two boat fleet at the annual UIM F1 H2O World Championship press launch and gala dinner held today at the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) complex in downtown Abu Dhabi.
The international press that had gathered to hear series promoter Nicolo di San Germano speak about the upcoming campaign were able to see for the first time the lovely new look of the two boat that drivers Thani Al Qamzi and teammate Ahmed Al Hameli will drive for the new season beginning at the Grand Prix of Portugal in Portimao on the eighth and ninth of May on the Algarve River.
“The boats look fantastic,” said Assistant General Manager Salem Rashed Al Romaili of ADIMSC. “We wanted a fresh new look and I think we've done more than that, we've made a statement that these boats will look something special on the water and the look translates to the speed in which these boats travel on water which is lightning quick.”
The two boat team led by four time World Champion Scott Gillman, who won three of his four titles with Team Abu Dhabi, has at his disposal two of the most talented young drivers with Thani driving an Italian DAC hull built in Como, Italy while Ahmed drives a BABA boat that was built by Massimo Roggiero in his race shops Northwest of Milan. Unusual that they are not the same hull design but each driver feels comfortable in their own setup and feels they can maximize their efforts in a hull that makes them comfortable in their individual quest to win their first world titles in 2010.
“I love the new paint scheme,” said Thai. “It makes my boat look faster even as it sits still in the water. I only hope I can take that next step this season after finishing in the drivers championship a year ago to win it for the first time this season. This can only help.”
“The colors and the flow of the lines make my boat something special,” said Ahmed. “We are hoping we can go once again this season to Portugal and lead the field of drivers and win again this season as we did last season in Portimao when Thani and I won both races. This year we will battle for the win on the Algarve. It should be something to remember.”
The start of the 30th Anniversary season of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship is less than a month away and the boats will be heading to Europe with a new design and the team and drivers will share the new look with high hopes of a drivers title to go with a team title for Team Abu Dhabi for the first time since the 2006 season.
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