Liuzhou, China - 1st October - The first heat of the Formula 4S championship on the River Liu was clinched by Team Sweden's Bimba Sjoholm. After a slow start, Sjoholm found herself down in 3rd place after the first turn behind Team Atlantic's Matt Palfreyman leading Qatar's Salhed Al Shamlin with Mad Croc's Filip Roms in 4th place.

However after Roms flipped over, confusion appeared to prevail among the leading trio as none of them were getting a clear message from their radioman. Palfreyman never heard any message so when the green flag was raised Sjoholm swept into the lead with Al Shamlan in hot pursuit at times drawing up alongside.

It was clear Palfreyman was aggrieved about losing the lead as he settled in 3rd place. China's Xiong Ziwei held off the strong finishing Team Nautica's Carl-Hampus Lundberg while Singha Beer's Kristoffer Fjelde finished in 6th place a lap down on the leader.

Hopefully the Abu Dhabi team will line-up for the second heat tomorrow as today their boat was undergoing repairs after its accident in Kazan.