KAZAN, Russia - (20th of June, 2012) - Swedish star Jonas Andersson begins his 2nd race of the 2012 UIM F1 H2O World Championship in Kazan this weekend knowing that despite not scoring a point in the opening round in Doha, Qatar back in March, this Grand Prix could be the stepping stone to his dream of becoming a F1 champion.
Why? The numbers say so.
The driver from Fruvi, Sweden will represent Team Sweden as Jonas tries to become only the third driver to ever win three times in a Russian Grand Prix since the series started racing in the Federation back in the 1995 season. He's chasing Italian Guido Cappellini and USA's Scott Gillman who completed their efforts back in the 1990's as this duo won the first five Russian Grand Prix's held in either St. Petersburg or Moscow.
"I truly believe that my Christian Molgaard built race boat has to be the best designed and well balanced hull I have ever raced," said Jonas. "With that in mind I have the confidence to take this boat to the top step this time around, winning the event and getting back into the championship hunt."
The 38 year-old two-time F2 World Champion, knows that a year ago here on Nizny Kabon Lake in the city center of Kazan, he was forced to start at the end of the dock because of mechanical problems. His charge towards the front was one of the memorable rides of the year until he crashed out on the far South end of the two kilometer circuit. The tens of thousands of spectators gave him a thunderous ovation for his efforts despite ending his day early and being classified in 14th position at days end.
He doesn't want a repeat.
"I really had mixed emotions after last years Grand Prix here in Kazan," said Jonas. "I was chasing Scott Gillman pushing for a top five finish when we ended our day a lot earlier than I wanted. Now, I want to do what I did in 2008 and 2009 and win in Russia for a third time on Saturday afternoon."
Jonas has gone 23 starts without a victory since his last triumph at the Grand Prix of China in Liuzhou back in 2009.
His four career victories make him the winningest Swedish driver in F1 history ahead of Anders Anderson, Bertil Wik and Goran Karlof.
Jonas and his Team Sweden crew will get their chance starting this Friday afternoon at 18:00 local time and 14:00 GMT with a one hour qualifying session in the battle for pole position for Saturday's Grand Prix.
The official start time for the Grand Prix of the Republic of Tatarstan and the 13th Grand Prix race in the Russian Federation will take place at 17:00 local and 13 GMT and 9:00 EDT on the East Coast of North America.
Both official qualifying and the second round of the 2012 UIM F1 H2O World Championship can be followed in their entirety on the official website www.f1h2o.com.
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