DOHA, Qatar - Wednesday, March 7, 2012 - Its been four long years, but a Russian driver is back full time in the UIM F1 H2O World Championship and everyone seems pleased with his return to the world's number one racing series on water.
Stanislav Kurtsenovskiy is back, returning for the first time since running his last full schedule back in 2008. The seven year veteran is looking forward to starting his 38th career Grand Prix, this time for the famous CTIC CHINA Team, beginning this weekend on the ninth and 10th of March along the corniche in Doha for the 10th Grand Prix of Qatar.
"I am so excited about coming back full time into the sport with such a well established group as the CTIC China organization," said the 40 year-old from St. Petersburg. "We look to have a really competitive package this year. It begins with racing alongside Philippe Chiappe of France who finished fifth in the championship a year ago with three podiums. I'm hoping the two of us can make it together on the podium a couple of times in 2012 with a possible victory or two in the cards as well. That would be a great dream."
Better known as "Stan the Man", Kurtsenovskiy began his F1 career back in 2000 starting four races, crashing out of two and finishing one. "It was a real learning season for me. I took some hard hits early on in my career with three accidents in my first seven starts in my first two campaigns. I also learned respect for the speed and the quality of the sport having then only two incidents in my last 30 Grand Prix's.
I understand the history of what Russian drivers have contributed to this sport and I also realize that I must live up to the historic nature of my fellow countryman who have made a name for themselves.
Even though I am from St. Petersburg, as a Russian citizen I can't wait for our race later this summer in Kazan as well. I raced there last year and look forward to it again."
Stanislav and 19 other drivers are set to take to the water for an extra free practice session on Thursday afternoon for two hours from 15:00 to 17:00 local time (12:00 to 14:00 GMT) to start the weekend.
On Friday the first battle for pole position runs for an hour of knockout elimination from 15:30 to 16:30 local (12:30 to 13:30 GMT) on the 9th of March. Last years pole winner Sami Selio of the Mad Croc Team is back after missing the final two months of last season after a crash that injured the two-time World Champion from Finland looking for his third career pole in his career.
The 10th Grand Prix of Qatar will take place to open up the season on Saturday the 10th of March at 15:45 local (12:45 GMT) and 06:45 Eastern Standard Time on the East Coast of North America opening the 2012 UIM F1 H2O World Championship for power boating.
You can follow both qualifying and the Grand Prix live by going to the official website at www.f1h2o.com.
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