Doha, Qatar - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - After 12 years of racing, it's time.
Many veteran observers who follow the UIM F1 H2O World Championship series believe that it is time for veteran driver Thani Al Qamzi from Team Abu Dhabi to make his statement for a claim in winning his first World Championship after over a decade of competing on the world's most difficult tour on water.
"I have been going through this in my mind all winter and realize now is my time to push for the coveted ring of a World Champion or accept the fate of being a "journeyman" when my career ends," said Thani. "I am at the top of my game, I have a great crew and now it's my time to shine!"
The season starts this weekend at the edge of the corniche along the waterfront at the foot of the Gulf in Doha for the 10th Grand Prix of Qatar.
Twenty drivers from around the world are here with Thani being one of only three active drivers in the field who have won at the grueling event.
"This is a real tricky circuit with the open ocean swells coming in from the Northeast side of the course," said the native of Abu Dhabi. "If you are not careful, a rogue wave can end your day in a hurry. It happens so fast here, you don't even realize it until it's over. I won this event in 2007 and know what it takes to be the best on a particular day here, I want to do it again this weekend as well."
Thani along with his teammate Ahmed Al Hameli helped dominate the last half of the UIM F1 H2O campaign a year ago winning three of the last four events. Thani finished third in the championship while Ahmed, despite missing a race in Kazan, was fourth in the drivers championship.
Thani has spent his winter sharpening his skills riding big four-wheelers in the desert, doing motocross events while spending his evenings at his first love, fishing.
Thani earned pole position in 2007 and has started twice in the second position along with three total podiums in nine previous starts. His teammate, Ahmed, has a pair of second place starting spots but no poles yet in qualifying.
On Friday, the battle for pole position will take place at 15:30 local time (12:30 GMT) for one hours time with three qualifying sessions to be run. The third and final session, Q3, will see the final ten boats come out one by one for two laps to earn pole position in a new twist to an old theme of who's fastest on water and whom will start on pole position when the day is over.
The qualifying drama on water can be followed completely "live" by going to the official website of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship tour at www.f1h2o.com.
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