ABU DHABI - (Tuesday, 9 December) - In what is fast becoming the "new normal," for the sixth time in the past nine season's, going into the final round of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship at the Grand Prix of Sharjah, multiple drivers are going to leave nothing to chance in their battle for fame and glory and an outright world drivers championship.
Last year, along the Khaled Lagoon, in the spectacular city of Sharjah outside of Dubai, four different drivers, including two past world champions, were in the hunt for the 2013 crown.
The one driver who climbed his way to the top was Alex Carella of the Qatar Team.
The young Italian out-dueled a trio of stars, including teammate Shaun Torrente, French driver Philippe Chiappe of the CTIC China Team and Sami Selio of the Mad Croc Baba organization.
This year Selio, a two-time World Champion from Finland, has taken himself out of the picture with just one podium third place to his resume in 2014 while sitting fourth in the championship.
So, what goes around, comes around and the same three drivers are back in the fight.
This time it's Chiappe leading the standings with 50 points heading into the final round just three points ahead of Carella and six in front of the American driver from Florida, Torrente.
For Carella, he's going for a "dynastic" four straight titles!
Alex is hoping to tie the all-time mark set by Hall-of-Fame driver Guido Cappellini who captured four straight World Championship's from 1993 thru 1996. No one has reached that mark since. In order for the driver from Piacenza to do it, he will have to finish at least four points ahead of Chiappe at the 15th Anniversary year's Grand Prix event at 16:00 local time on the 19th of December.
"I've struggled a bit lately", said Alex. "However, these past few weeks have given me time to plan my strategy and I really feel I'm in a great place physically and mentally ready to take my fourth straight championship."
"I like it here. I beat Jay (Price) back in 2011 and Shaun and Philippe last year so I've had good luck along the Khaled Lagoon."
Meanwhile, a dark horse a season ago, coming into the event trailing by six points in 2013, Philippe Chiappe, has the first title in his resume for the first time in career "to lose" while leading Carella this time by three points in the drivers standings with 20 points still on the table to be won.
"The win in Abu Dhabi was huge, for not only me, but the whole CTIC China organization as well," said the driver from Rouen.
"We had all sorts of doubts leading into the Grand Prix. The engine and set-up weren't right and with the help of my great crew of professionals who went to work at a double quick speed race morning and it proved to be unbeatable at the end."
"We only need to do it right one more time and I'll reach my lifelong dream of becoming an F1 champion."
If there is a long shot for the title, Shaun Torrente would be the one.
His 44 points are six back from Chiappe and he needs to win, plain and simple.
At the same time, Shaun's perfect scenario would be if his teammate Alex finishes second and Chiappe third for him to also capture his first world title.
"I'm feeling the heat, but actually, it's all about going out and having a good race," said the three-time North American Champion. "It's that simple, really. All three of us know the circuit well enough so there won't be any surprises."
"Qualifying is so very important here and I'll be ready for the challenge believe me."
Shaun finished by saying, "We've been working very hard here in Florida since we returned from Abu Dhabi and feel we will be leaving nothing left to chance for this goal of winning a title when it's all over next week."
So, here are the updated numbers on the three drivers fighting for the honor of being declared World Champion.
Philippe Chiappe: 11 race starts in Sharjah; no wins; 1 podium (second a year ago); three top-five's. Best qualifying effort was a third a year ago.
Alex Carella: four race starts; a win a year ago and a third in 2010; two failures to finish including crashing out in 2011. Two pole positions (2010 and 2013).
Shaun Torrente: just two race starts; finished third a year ago and fifth in 2011. Best qualifying run was a second last year.
The bottom line to all of this?
Philippe Chiappe, has the momentum of coming off a win in Abu Dhabi from pole position in his new Moore hull and has finished either first or second in the three races he's completed this season. He has to be a strong favorite for his first world title.
Alex Carella, knows how to win here and qualify well in the Khaled Lagoon. He, however has hit a bit of a bad stretch and needs a quick and final turnaround to earn his "dynastic" fourth straight title.
Shaun Torrente, first and second in the last two races and has lead all but one this season. He should, if not the bad luck, be easily leading the championship. However the driver from Miami isn't going to put any more pressure on himself as necessary and knows he needs some help in order to win the title. For that reason, he's just going out to enjoy himself to the end.
The magnificent odyssey to a 31st UIM F1 H2O World Championship title will begin it's journey on Thursday, December 18th with official qualifying for the all important pole position at 15:30 local, 11:30 GMT and 07:30 EST on the East Coast of North America.
The 15th Anniversary edition of the Grand Prix of Sharjah is scheduled to start on Friday, December 19th for a 16:00 local, 12:00 GMT and 07:00 EST on the East Coast of North America. Both qualifying and the Grand Prix can be seen live via the internet by going to the tours official website at www.f1h2o.com and watched via the worldwide television feed.
Three drivers, with three different dreams, and only one will find true glory with a World Title on the Khaled Lagoon at the 257th Grand Prix in the history of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship for powerboating.
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