ABU DHABI - Thursday, October 22, 2015 - The sea of changes that swept over the usually calm waters of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship series paddock in early February of this year rocked the powerboat racing world to the core.

The first salvo was sent by Team Abu Dhabi as the organization located at the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) headquarters when the executives decided that there needed to be a change at the top after struggling for results and not having a world championship driver in its ranks since 2006.

Four-time World Champion and now Hall-of-Fame member Scott Gillman was asked to resign and remove himself from his apartment as soon as possible, with his 15 year reign as head of the racing division having come to a swift end.

A new face would take over and put new life into the organization, enter ten-time World Champion Guido Cappellini, Gillman's chief rival for over a decade to replace him and start anew.

And now, eight months later and returning for the first time back to his new headquarters of his new Emirates Team the American from California looks at things differently than when he went away four months ago back to his new summer home in Italy.

Is he excited about returning to his city that he has called home for the past fifteen years?

"I am excited," said 23-time Grand Prix winner. "Abu Dhabi has been my second home and I love it here. I've been away most of the summer and am now ready to continue to work as hard as possible to get our team ready for two back to back memorable performances coming up on the 11th and 18th of December in the Emirates."

Does he hold any bitterness towards the situation after being forced to walk away from people he has known for almost 20 years?

"No, I have no bitterness what so ever. What happened has happened and you go on and grow from the experience and learned that nothing is guaranteed or lasts forever. I needed a new plan and I needed it quickly and it worked out better than I had hoped and have made some new friends as well."

"What has actually happened is I've now associated myself with a wonderful group of business people who have faith in our new program and whom are backing the organization with needed financial backing and enthusiasm as well. SENAAT, one of the largest industrial holding companies in the United Arab Emirates with portfolio companies such as Emirates Steel and Al Foah having jumped on board helping local driver Ahmed Al Hameli along with our young Swedish driver Erik Stark in what we consider one of best one-two driver talented line-ups on the tour."

On paper, the Gillman led Emirates Team is solid. Six-time Grand Prix winner Al Hameli came on board after being with Team Abu Dhabi for nine seasons earning 17 podiums and 25 top-five performances for the club in that time.

Meanwhile, four-time F2 World Champion Erik Stark, came over from Team EMIC having scored a pair of podiums in just over a full first season of racing. This future star has been receiving some great mentoring from his new Team Manager who raced in the sport for well over 20 years totally a room full of World and American titles to go with the memories.

However, 2015?

Well, both drivers would like to get a "re-boot" of their season's with Al Hameli getting caught up in an accident with Finnish driver Sami Selio at the opening race in Qatar in March chasing for a podium position. This, followed by a failure to finish in two of the next three rounds, with only an uncharacteristiclly low 10th place being his only point in the season, thus far, to show for his efforts.

"I've just had some bad luck this year," said Abu Dhabi resident who's looking for his first career victory on his home circuit. "I crashed out in qualifying in France chasing a top-six Q3 position when the conditions were very rough, and it seems to have not gotten any better as this season has rolled along, until now. I will be home, refreshed and ready for a great show for all my friends who will be attending the race. This moves me."

For the Stockholm native, Erik crashed out in the race in Evian, France while chasing a second straight top three. He seemed to have turned things around when he got to the podium in Porto with a fine second place. However, he had another incident that will keep him off the water for a month crashing out in China in qualifying in a new boat.

"Yes, I feel I'm driving in deep deep mud," said the 27 year-old. "Just when we get the momentum in our direction, something happens to take it all away. The good news is, we still have a third of the way left in the season and we can really make a statement with back to back races here in my new second home, the Emirates."

"We still have a lot to play for," said Erik's Team Manager Scott Gillman. "We still have a long shot at the Team Championship and Erik, who sits fifth in the Drivers World championship Points table still has an outside chance to come from behind and win it all if everything falls in our lap. You never say never in this business and we will be ready to add to our points total in December, believe me."

So, there you have it, the story of a Hall-of-Fame driver who locked up his first of four world titles back in Abu Dhabi in 1997 looking to recreate more magic 18 years later at the same venue that he was asked to vacate from back in February.

If anyone can find electricity needed to "get Ur done" its the driver who found the podium 53 times in his 92 Grand Prix starts.

But most important, he's back home again!

The fourth round of the 2015 UIM F1 H2O World Championship tour takes place on the 10th and 11th of December along the corniche in central downtown Abu Dhabi. The race, which is the longest lasting event on the calendar started over two decades ago back in 1993. This year, will once again play a large part in determining the historic meaning of this championship.

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