Price Looks For American Success In Russia !
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – 13th of June, 2008 – Italian multi-time World Champion Guido Cappellini returns to a circuit just outside the Baltic Sea that has brought him success and frustration as he arrives at the lovely Neva River in the port city of St. Petersburg, Russia for the 4th round of the 2008 U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating and the 7th Grand Prix of Russia.
It may have been over a decade and many people may have forgotten but the 48 year-old driver from Como won back to back Grand Prix in 1995 and again in 1996 on his way to two world championships. This time around in 2008 the lead driver of the Tamoil Team comes in with 27 points in the championship and a victory at last weekend’s Grand Prix of Finland in Lahti. Is he desperate to push it even harder since he is 23 points back of world points leader Jay Price of the Qatar Team ?
¨I am feeling we are starting to get back into the ¨zone¨ with our victory in Finland,¨ said the 9 time World Champion. ¨We are going into this event as the last race until the summer reccess and would love to keep the competition guessing all season until our return in China in October. Pushing our opponents to the max is important in any world championship title run.¨
While the driver who now lives in Monaco can feel strongly about his recent success, he will be bucking a driver and tradition that is running strongly against him here in St. Petersburg, the American tradition of success on the Neva River. World points leader Jay Price has 50 points and more importantly has been on the podium finishing no lower than 2nd in any of the first three events including his impressive victory at the Grand Prix of Portugal in May. He may have even topped his own dramatic performance with a mind wrenching back to front charge not once but twice at last weeks event in Finland.
¨We did a great job of proving that this team can charge in any conditions,¨ said the driver from New Orleans. ¨We know the American tradition of Scott Gillman winning twice in 1997 and 1998 the last two times here, and hope we can keep this success alive and make it 3 victories in a row for American drivers.¨
A large field of drivers are expected in the shadow of the Peter and Paul Fortress running the ¨white nights¨ first time evening event in the history of the sport by starting the feature at 20 :00 local.
Can Cappellini win for the 3rd time or will the American success or other driver step forward for success here in St. Petersburg ? One thing is certain, new faces have addorned the top step of the podium the last 4 races in a row and there is no reason why this would change this weekend. Drama ? It’s always in play here in St. Petersburg. Tomorrow won’t be any different with a full schedule of qualifying and the race all placed in a 10 hour window. Stay informed with all the action by going to www.f1boat.com
