ABU DHABI, UAE – Sunday, November 21, 2010 – The English word DRAMA – according to Webster's Dictionary - “is a situation or series of events involving interesting or intense conflict of forces.”
Well, there has been plenty of “drama” historically, as the stage is once again set for the Grand Prix of Qatar to be played out on the very challenging five turn 2.0 kilometer race circuit along the corniche around the dazzling downtown waterfront of the city.
The UIM F1 H20 World Championship for powerboating is beginning it's tour of the Middle East and the final push to determine a World Champion for 2010. The Eighth Grand Prix of Qatar will play a pivotal role in deciding who's number one in the world on the weekend of November 26th and 27th.
“The race course is the most challenging circuit we race on all season long,” said lead driver and 2008 World Champion Jay Price of the Qatar Team. “This is our home race, and we'll be feeling the pressure to win and push for the lead in the championship as we are currently sitting in second position.”
The home standing driver Price is sitting 11 points back of the lead with 48. Jay has had bad luck here in the past and failed to finish both races a year ago in Doha, while second place back in 2008 being his best result in five career race starts at his home Grand Prix.
The driver who leads the championship after his great victory last race in Shenzhen, China is Italian Francesco Cantando. The 35 year-old from Milan has reached the podium in all four races he's finished for the Singha Team and wants to keep his “drive alive” for his first world title after finishing runner-up three times in the championship in his 15 year F1 career.
“We are looking forward to Doha this year even more than in the past because we lead the championship and are full of confidence,” said Francesco. “You know, we've only finished twice in seven previous starts here and would love to get my second straight podium in Qatar and put more pressure on my competition as we go into our final two races in the Emirates when we leave here.”
With five drivers separated by just 15 points for the top of the table, rookie-of-the-candidate Alex Carella of Italy driving for the Mad Croc Team has been the surprise of the season now just one point behind Jay Price and sitting third in the race for the title with 47 points. His teammate Sami Selio, the 2007 World Champion from Finland is tied for four with Thani Al Qamzi of the Team Abu Dhabi group with 44 points.
Sami has raced in all seven previous events in Doha finishing six with only one of these events being on the podium with a third place in 2005. Meanwhile, Thai has a win from pole position in 2007 along with two second place finishes and just loves the rough water here in the inner harbor setting and maybe the man to beat this race.
The dark horse of the event should be Swedish driver Jonas Andersson who won this race in 2008 and like Al Qamzi has finished every event he's started in 2010 for the Azerbaijan Team. His teammate, Marit Stromoy of Norway is coming off her best qualifying effort of her career and another top ten finish in Shenzhen three weeks ago.
Another Swede, Pierre Lundin, is sixth in the championship with 33 points after finishing third in China behind his teammate Philippe Chiappe who had a career best second for the CTIC China Team at their home Grand Prix.
Retired defending World Champion Guido Cappellini, took a giant step toward his final title last season by winning both Doha races. Meanwhile, his one-time teammate Ivan Brigada in one of his brief appearances in the sport, took a well earned win from pole position in 2005 ahead of four-time World Champion Scott Gillman, who now is team manager for Team Abu Dhabi.
The five turn 1.99 kilometer (1.25 mile) circuit has many surprises. The open ended north side of the race lap forces the drivers to be very diligent of the odd “rogue” wave that may arrive from the Gulf. The results could ruin their hopes and dreams of victory if they are not careful to notice the conditions that are constantly changing.
All in all, the Eighth Grand Prix of Qatar will once again be a dramatic page in the history of the sport and an important chapter in the continuing drama that is the UIM F1 H2O World Championship for powerboating the weekend of November 26th and 27th harbor side in downtown Doha.
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