LIUZHOU, China – Monday, 5th of October, 2009 – With just one day away from the start of the 10th Grand Prix of China in Liuzhou, two different drivers are pushing hard to keep their streaks alive as the 2009 U.I.M. F1 H2O World Championship reaches its half-way mark of the current campaign.
Defending race and World Champion Jay Price of the Qatar Team rolls into town having won the last two races he's started by capturing victory at the second event at the Grand Prix of Finland back in June and the first event at the August event at the Grand Prix of Russia in St. Petersburg.
The driver from America held a brief one day lead in the drivers championship until an unfortunate wiring failure in his boat kept him from participating in the second Grand Prix on the Neva River giving back the championship lead to rival Thani Al Qamzi of Team Abu Dhabi who now has a 65 to 55 point lead on Price coming to Liuzhou.
“We are really disappointed we didn't get to challenge in the second event in Russia,” said Jay. “Now we are more than determined to get back on the right track and get the Qatar Team back on top of the podium here in China. I have had good luck here, winning last year and in three finishes always taking a first or a second place.”
Jay's record is even more remarkable with the driver from New Orleans, Louisiana having finished first or second in nine of his last 10 finishes with only a penalty taking out a buoy marking his only failure to reach the podium in the last two seasons.
Jonas Andersson of Team Azerbaijan is on a winning track again having won the last event of the season by taking victory at the second race in St. Petersburg for his third career victory. Andersson has now moved up in the points championship with 52 points and third overall.
“It was a giant victory for us in Russia,” said Jonas. “Now we need to be more consistent and keep on putting pressure on Thani and Jay and continue what we are doing for us to have an honest shot at this years title. I have a great boat and my crew is working hard to make things happen this time around.”
Jonas' history in China has been a bit mixed with the 35 year-old Swede looking for his first podium finish having his best result in Shenzhen a year ago starting and finishing fourth. In Liuzhou last year Jonas started seventh only to crash out and be classified 12th. This time around he hopes for a better result at the end.
The seventh and eighth rounds of the 2009 U.I.M. F1 H2O Championship will take place on the Liu River at 1500 local time, 0700 GMT and 0300 Eastern Daylight Time on the East Coast of North America.
Be In The Know – With F1 H2O!
