DOHA, Qatar - 20th of November, 2013 - The home standing Qatar Team is hoping a little "home cooking" is going to be just what is ordered up as they continue to search for success in this years 2013 UIM F1 H2O World Championship for powerboating this Friday and Saturday on their home waters of Doha Bay for the 11th Grand Prix of Qatar.
Italian Alex Carella, tied for the lead in the drivers championship with 44 points, is coming off a dominating weekend in Liuzhou, China back in October. He won from pole position for the first time this season after having earned a pair of third places earlier this year in Brazil and the Ukraine.
"I realize this is a race that is very important not only for my chances at a World Title but for my crew as well in the fight for the team championship," said the 27 year-old driver. "I want to try to put some distance between myself and Sami (Selio) who is tied with me with 44 points."
Alex, who is currently the back-to-back World Championship winner, has never won here in his four years of racing and is hoping he can reverse that trend here this weekend.
"I realize. more than anything, that I haven't taken victory here along the corniche yet," said Alex. "My old teammate Jay Price won here twice back in 2010 and 2011, but I haven't been as lucky."
A year ago, Alex qualified second and finished fifth. Meanwhile, his new teammate from the past two years, another American, Shaun Torrente of Florida started down in 19th in 2012 only to finish in front of Carella in fourth. The talented American is still looking for his first ever podium in Doha in his career.
"I think both Alex and I are really confident coming into this weekend," said the driver from Miami. "We tested yesterday about 40 kilometers north of Doha with our engine designer Brendan Power and he helped walk us through the race strategy. We feel strongly about both our set-up and our race plans for this Friday and Saturday. Hopefully, our hard work will pay off with a glowing successful and a memorable Grand Prix weekend."
While the Qatar Team prepares for welcoming the world at their home circuit that this year consists of six pins and nearly 2.0 kilometers in length, drivers like Selio, who is tied with Carella equally in points with 44 points, chases his first victory in Doha in his 11th start since its first Grand Prix back in 2005.
"No, we haven't won here yet, however we have two pole positions in qualifying and three podiums during that time in the race so we know our way to success in Doha," said Sami. "Now, this time a win hopefully to get us moving in a positive position for the final few rounds of the season."
French pilot Philippe Chiappe of the CTIC China Team comes in with great hopes sitting in third position just five points back in the drivers championship with a season highlighted with his first victory of his career in Kiev back in July. The driver from Rouen was runner-up in the title in 2012 and is dedicated to earning his first this time around.
There are four different drivers in the starting field that have won before in Doha looking to earn more success headed by Italian Ivan Brigada the 2006 winner driving for the Caudwell Team of South Africa.
Thani Al Qamzi of Team Abu Dhabi won in 2007, while Jonas Andersson of Team Azerbaijan in 2008 and Ahmed Al Hameli a year ago make up a strong field of past winners on Doha Bay.
Official qualifying for pole position will take place on Friday the 22nd of November at 14:00 local, 11:00 GMT and 06:00 Eastern Standard Time on the East Coast of North America. The 11th Grand Prix of Qatar will be at 15:45 local, 12:45 GMT and 07:45 Eastern Standard Time in North America.
Both qualifying and the Grand Prix can be followed in its entirety by watching via the worldwide television feed by going to the series official website at www.f1h2o.com.
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