ABU DHABI - October 12, 2013 - Some people just can't seem to stay away from the UIM F1 H2O World Championship racing series no matter how hard they try even if they have long retired from the sport.
Granted, their racing days as a driver may be over, but their love for the sport keeps them keenly involved.
This is exactly why 10-time World Champion Guido Cappellini recently held a three day training school in San Nazzaro, Italy as he passes his knowledge of the sport on to others whom he hopes will then carry the torch for a new generation of drivers in the future.
"This is the first of what I hope will be many schools to come," said the driver from Como, Italy. "I think this area around the Po River is just a perfect location and like anything else, you need more than a one day session to really demonstrate and teach prospective drivers how to be comfortable and understand what it takes to drive these ultimate catamarans on water."
Guido, who won a record setting 63 Grand Prix's in his 20 year F1 career, prepared nine young Russian drivers recently for two upcoming competitions: the UIM Nations Cup and the 24 Hours of Rouen.
The school was funded, courtesy of Russian tycoon Andrey Kitashev, who wants to take his young comrades to some of the toughest and prestigious powerboat races in the world in short order and whom better than Cappellini to teach them the ropes firsthand.
"By me putting on this program it gave me a perfect opportunity to get back into the cockpit of one of my F1 boats," said the 54 year-old. "The feeling was immediately good and it had been a long time since I drove an F1 package and I truly enjoyed it."
"In a few seconds it all came back to me and I was entertaining everyone with my power on nose high maneuvers as I demonstrated the powerful acceleration of these boats on a short straightaway. I'm not saying I'll be back in F1, but, more seriously, it was important that I showed my students my skill and demonstrated how you must respect the true nature of these boats or if not, they will get away from you in a hurry."
"Both the Nations Cup and the 24 Hours of Rouen are rough races and the require serious training and I think we took a giant step in helping prepare this sport to these nine Russian drivers."
The UIM Nations Cup will enjoy two races coming up in the near future beginning with the first along the corniche in Doha during the UIM F1 H2O World Championship weekend on the 20th thru the 22nd of November.
The final race of 2013 will take place a week later in Abu Dhabi, once again at the UIM F1 H2O event, on the 29th of November thru the first of December, along the corniche just in front of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) just inside the Gulf on the northern end of the city.
Guido is just the latest of the many drivers past and present that "give back" to this ultimate sport. Current drivers Sami Selio of Finland and Marit Stromoy of Norway have helped establish and support smaller entry level racing classes in their homelands to young drivers.
Meanwhile, four-time World Champion Scott Gillman has been Race Team Manager and mentor to a multitude of drivers with association to Team Abu Dhabi and the ADIMSC organization for almost a decade.
Giving back, to the world's ultimate sport on water, the UIM F1 H2O World Championship, it only makes sense for these talented people who see nothing but a bright future and want to keep it that way for future generations to come.
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