SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates – Tuesday, December 8, 2009 – Five drivers from five different countries are hoping to take home with them the honor, the glory and trophy this week after the final two events of the 2009 U.I.M. F1 H2O World Championship for power boating at the 10th Grand Prix of Sharjah on the Khaled Lagoon.
The odds on favorite to win his 10th Drivers Championship is Italian Guido Cappellini in his Zepter sponsored DAC boat leading the championship by 10 points with just two races left to be run. But if past history is any indication, don't start shining up the trophy with his name on it just yet. You see, Guido has been chasing his “next title” since the last time he won one back in 2005. In two of the past three years, he's had the inside track, only to fail to finish the race giving the championship to American Scott Gillman in 2006 and Sami Selio of Finland in 2007. Last year American Jay Price of the Qatar Team had already wrapped up the title by the time he arrived in Sharjah with Guido having his worst season in his previous 19 finishing a lowly 10th in the title chase. He hopes this time it will a happier ending:
“This has not been our lucky place lately,” said Guido. “Hopefully, this time around we can change this and win again We've won titles here on the water in 2001 and 2005 and would love to do it again this time and a third victory here as well.”
Drivers earn 20 points for a victory and with two races left, there are still 40 more points to be taken if you can win both Grand Prix's. This then, leads us to the next intriguing story, having a native son and Team Abu Dhabi driver Thani Al Qamzi second with 119 points and winner here two of the last three season's. Thani needs to find the speed that brought him to the number one step a year ago and at the second race at the Grand Prix of Portugal this year. That, however was back in April, eight months ago, but his consistency has saved him and put the 31 year-old driver with a solid shot at the title by Friday evening.
The defending title holder, Jay Price, was leading the chase at almost the halfway point of the season until he hit a dry spell. He went on to earn points in only one of the next seven events. He has a great record of finishing on the podium when he does finish however. The driver from New Orleans, Louisiana has taken either wins or runner-up positions in 12 of the last 13. He would have had a perfect 13 for 13 performance that stretches for two years had he not been docked a lap early in the season by the officials eventually being classified 15th. He currently sits with 105 points and 24 back of Cappellini.
Fourth in the title chase is Swedish driver Jonas Andersson of Team Azerbaijan. Jonas was at one time red hot and now has fallen into the “so-so” category struggling to get back to the podium after winning two of three in a span from St. Petersburg, Russia to the Grand Prix's in Liuzhou, China. The 35 year-old from Fruvi saw a bit of his championship dreams literally take a hit at the last event in Abu Dhabi when he and fellow Swede Pierre Lundin of the China CTIC organization blow over together at the right hand corner on the front straight damaging his DAC boat in a big way. He hopes to have it corrected by the start of Thursday's first event while sitting with 104 points.
The final driver with championship dreams is fifth place Sami Selio of Helsinki who had a miracle finish here in 2007. He has been lightning fast in qualifying all season setting a new standard for pole positions having earned seven in the last eight starts in his BABA built boat from Northern Italy. Selio, with 100 points, has only managed two wins in his seven pole positions and needs to turn the magic of speed in qualifying into magic in race conditions both on Thursday and Friday to have any chance at his second World Championship.
Forty big points and five drivers from five different countries with hopes and dreams with three already reaching the top step of the title with World Championships and two still searching. The 15th round of the 2009 U.I.M. F1 H2O World Championship begins just past 15:30 local, 11:30 GMT and 06:30 EST on the East Coast of North America. Race fans will be able to follow the race live by going to the tours official website at www.f1h2o.com
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