LIUZHOU, China - 4 October, 2014 - As the hours before the 20th Anniversary year of racing in China get closer at hand questions swirling around the UIM F1 H2O World Championship paddock this weekend revolve around the much talked about new race hulls that are now in the hands of two past race winners here in the Peoples Republic.
Two-time back to back race winner Alex Carella of the Qatar Team returns with a brand new DAC hull that was built in Como, Italy and was expected to be introduced at the opening round in Doha, Qatar back in the spring for the opening Grand Prix.
The proper introduction was delayed because of an accidental explosion damaging the boat while testing prior the Grand Prix back in March and was shelved until this weekend on the Liu River.
"This new boat is all together different than past DAC's aerodynamically and hydrodynamics are also improved on the past design," said Assistant Team Manager and engine development engineer Brendan Power of the Qatar Team.
"We have tested this boat in Italy during the summer and feel like this is a giant step forward. It will be interesting to see how Alex does starting with the all important step of qualifying on Sunday afternoon at 15:00 local time. The development of this sport goes on and on and this is a state of the art project that we've been waiting to introduce for a long time. We'll see if it will be step forward tomorrow."
Meanwhile, just thirty meters down the paddock a new second generation BABA boat hull is ready and waiting to pounce on the rest of the field tomorrow for two-time World Champion Sami Selio of the Mad Croc Baba Racing Team as it makes its debut to the world of F1 on Sunday in qualifying.
"I'm truly excited about the second generation BABA boat," said Sami. "It has so many new design features that have been well thought out in the many months of planning to carry this boat on to the next level."
"The cockpit is totally different with a wider profile, stronger around the driver for more protection, and at the same time more comfortable for the pilot while not feeling cramped in his surroundings.
We have done some testing with the boat and this could be a whole new step forward in the design, but only in race competition will we know for sure however. I can't wait."
Alex, who has won three of his six race starts in China, including two in a row in 2012 and 2013 in Liuzhou, faces off against Selio, who has also won in China in Shenzhen in 2008 and went on to take victories in Liuzhou and Shenzhen in 2009 before crashing out seriously in 2011 and again in 2012.
"I've had my real ups and downs here in China especially here in Liuzhou but I feel really confident that we can get back on the winning trail with this new boat this weekend," stated Sami.
Team Abu Dhabi and their driver Ahmed Al Hameli is also showing off a new BABA unit that Team Manager and four-time World Champion Scott Gillman feels can be a real game changer for his young driver.
Also of note will be the updated Caudwell Racing boat for Italian Ivan Brigada and his new teammate Tomas Cermak who will drive a completely new design. Their craft, has shed over 100 kilos and cantering their race engine 45 degrees after moving more of the weight rearward and giving the boats more lift in the process. Both drivers are hoping to reach the top ten in qualifications tomorrow afternoon.
Eighteen drivers from 10 different nations will take on the Liu River for three qualifying sessions including the all important top-six shootout at the end of the afternoon for two solo laps in the all out search for speed and pole position for Monday's Grand Prix of China.
Official qualifying is scheduled for 15:00 local, (07:00 GMT) and 03:00 on the East Coast of North America with the worldwide television feed being made available for viewing via the official website of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship at www.f1h2o.com.
Let's find out if all these new boats can make a difference. We will know by late Sunday afternoon when the qualifying story comes to an end.
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