Tuesday, 19 July: After his hard fought win in Evian last weekend, Team Abu Dhabi’s Alex Carella is back in front in the title race for the first time since China 2014.

For the Italian and the team things are looking pretty good; he tops the standings on 35 points, 11 clear of Shaun Torrente and 15 in front of Philippe Chiappe, tops the BRM Pole Position Championship and Abu Dhabi lead the Team Championship, which they won last season.

The 31-year-old three-time world champion from Piacenza produced two very gritty performances in Evian, a scintillating final lap in qualifying to steal pole form Torrente as the clock timed out and a determined 48-lap drive to take his career win tally to 12 as his rivals faltered.

It was a hard fought win that took everything out of Carella. “I am destroyed. Very very tired,” he commented post-race. “No one lap was easy, difficult conditions, crazy waves and taking risks all the time especially when me and Shaun were fighting. But this year it was our weekend. We lost out this time last year. We came to get that win back and we did.”

Team Abu Dhabi racing manager Guido Cappellini was more than happy with the team’s exploits over the weekend. “I am incredibly happy for the result, for Alex and because the boat and engine ran very well. I would say overall I am 90per cent happy because Thani [Al Qamzi] broke something but in any case we have the potential to have two drivers on the podium in first and second positions.”

Round three of the UIM F1H2O World Championship takes place in Portimao, Portugal on 29-31 July.