ABU DHABI - 25th of June, 2014 - Battling for the "upper hand" in the ultra competitive world of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship for power boating is getting more intense by the week as teams based both in Europe and America continue to raise the bar in getting the upper hand in the world's most challenging series on the water.
With the series promoter Nicolo di San Germano forced to cancel the mid-July annual event in Kyiv for the Grand Prix of Ukraine because of the current political crisis, the racing teams now will focus their attention to testing in awaiting the busy part of it's schedule in the months to come.
Leading the way is defending Team and Driver World Titlist's from a year ago the Qatar Team.
On board for the recent test sessions was three-time World Champion Alex Carella, who leads the 2014 championship with 20 points after winning at his teams home race in Doha. The 28 year-old was doing the driving last week in Northern Italy at the DAC workshops in Como trying out the latest 2014 DAC designed craft.
The boat, which had been completed early in the year, had a major mishap when it accidentally exploded in the teams workshops in Doha a week before the opening Grand Prix back in mid-March necessitating its return to the factory to be repaired.
"It was good to get back in the boat and focus on the championship," said Alex. "Testing is a grueling mental exercise as you do your best to take notes while pushing hard at the same time.
It will be interesting when we finally get to run this next example of the DAC line that dates back to the 1980's. I think this boat can be a real step forward for Shaun (Torrente) and me before the season comes to a close. You always need to have a leg up on the competition when it comes to designing a racing boat."
Meanwhile, the racing teams are planning to get their craft ready for shipment to China by the expected mid-August sail from Italy.
Others, such as the Qatar Team, will use this time to keep testing despite their primary hulls being locked on a container ship for the long haul six time zones to the east from the port of Genoa.
"We will have more extensive tests at our secret location in Florida," said Engine Management Director and Assistant Team Manager Brendan Power.
"This is where we really go to work with both Shaun and Alex working with our test boat as we continue to develop both the handling and the engine package to keep our program at the top of it's game.
Plus, it keeps both our talented drivers in fine "racing trim" prior to our race in China in early October."
While the Qatar Team works on both sides of the Atlantic to get ready for the tough part of the 2014 schedule Team Abu Dhabi led by four-time World Champion Scott Gillman has been busy working with his team and driver Ahmed Al Hameli who were testing last week in Casale, Italy preparing for trip to the next event on the schedule.
"We had a real beneficial test last week," said the Abu Dhabi Team Manager. "We not only improved our testing facilities near our race shop along the Po River but had "all hands on deck" here helping Ahmed get settled in his boat for 2014."
"We now have our nice new launch ramp working making it easy to go quickly from the race complex down to the waters edge, launching the boat and be testing in a matter of a few minutes.
I think the team is in high spirits and are ready to prove once again that Team Abu Dhabi will be organization that will be reckoning with before the end of the year. It all starts with testing and preparation and that's what we are doing at the moment."
A third team that has been preparing for the next faze of the campaign is the Milan based organization headed by Francesco Cantando. The 39 year-old driver who has earned 12 career victories and 42 podiums enjoys his new busy schedule with new sponsor MOTORGLASS.it traveling throughout Italy promoting not only his team but the sport of F1 H2O as well.
"It was great to be in my hometown of Milano two weeks ago at UIM Aquabike event at the Indroscalo," said Francesco. "Now we'll put some time into planning strategy for the remaining part of the season as we are fourth and right in the middle of a championship fight in 2014."
So, as the teams now set their sites on making sure they have everything prepared for the long journey ahead on the ship leaving Italy in mid-August to China, drivers, crews and Team Managers from throughout Europe, America, the Middle East and China are working on getting the upper hand against their opponents on this the 31st racing season of the world's most challenging series on water, the UIM F1 H2O World Championship.
Keep up with all the news of the championship by going to the official website at www.f1h2o.com.
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