Chiappe clinches drivers’ world title, but glory on the day for home drivers in dramatic Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, 12 December, 2015: Alex Carella clinched a dramatic victory in the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi and Thani Al-Qamzi produced a brilliant surge to finish third as the Team Abu Dhabi duo grabbed the lead in the race for the team title in the UIM F1 H20 c. In one of the most exciting races ever staged in the F1 series, Carella passed Finland’s Sami Selio with three laps to run to claim his team’s first victory in its home race in ten years. Lying third for much of the race behind Team Sweden’s Jonas Andersson and Selio, Carella seized his opportunity on lap 44 when Selio suffered engine issues and the Italian stormed through to the finish, pushing Team Abu Dhabi to the top of the F1 team standings. Andersson had started the race from fifth and surged into the lead on the opening lap as Carella was left behind. He held the advantage until lap 33 before engine issues sidelined his Molgaard. “At the start my engine didn’t fire, but this victory is very important for me,” said a delighted Carella. “I didn’t think I had a chance to win, but I battled until the end. I am so happy.” Frenchman Philippe Chiappe maintained his composure and stayed out of trouble to finish second and that was sufficient for the reigning UIM F1 H2O World Champion to retain his title with one race remaining in Sharjah next Friday. After engine problems yesterday ruined his chances of a first F1 victory on home waters, Al-Qamzi produced a sensational drive through the field from the rear of the start grid to finish in third position in the second Team Abu Dhabi boat. “I started from last and I managed to get on to the podium,” said Al-Qamzi. “The boat was running very good today. I saved it to avoid any crashes. I kept it safe because I broke two engines yesterday.” The last five pole sitters had claimed victory in Abu Dhabi, so Carella started as the clear favourite to win the race for the third time and give the host club a first triumph on home waters since Scott Gillman’s success in 2005. Seventeen boats took the start of the 48-lap race and his poor start Carella was beaten to the turn buoy by Selio and Andersson in slightly choppy conditions, although the Swede hit the front on the home straight and began to power away. Al-Qamzi began a charge from the rear of the field and had climbed from 17th to eighth after three laps. The leading 10 drivers retained their positions through one-third distance, but Torrente began to apply the pressure on Chiappe in a bid to reduce the Frenchman’s championship lead and Al-Qamzi passed Ahmed Al-Hameli into seventh place. With overtaking difficult, Andersson headed into half distance with a lead of 2.94 seconds over Selio, as the leading duo began to pull away from Carella and the battle for fourth between Chiappe and Torrente. Al-Qamzi and Al-Hameli managed to pass a retiring Stark, with the Team Abu Dhabi driver climbing into sixth and then surging into fifth when Torrente hit trouble. By lap 30 Andersson’s lead over Selio was 5.21 seconds, although Carella began to close on the Finn and Chiappe remained a distant fourth until Andersson dramatically stopped on lap 33. Carella became embroiled in an amazing battle with Selio over the closing laps. The pair were side-by-side down the straights until Carella surged into the lead with three laps to go and held to the finish. Selio was clearly struggling and began to slip down the leader board his demise promoting Chiappe to second place and Al-Qamzi to third. Earlier Team Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed Al-Mehairbi and Rashed Al-Qamzi got their challenge for honours in the second F-4S race off to a superb start when they qualified in first and second positions. It was Al-Mehairbi’s first ever career pole position, and while he suffered an early blow when the race began, hooking his Molgaard at the second turn and dropping to the rear of the field, he recovered to finish second, 2.56 seconds behind back-to-back race winner Anton Nyholm. “I am very happy to get the second place here,” said Al-Mehairbi. “This is the second time I have finished second in F-4S. I was also second in China last time out.” Al-Qamzi crashed on lap nine and forced a yellow flag situation. “It was a simple accident on the turn, I flipped the boat over and damaged the canopy,” he said. “Nothing serious.” 2015 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi - race result:
1. Alex Carella (ITA) Team Abu Dhabi 48 laps
2. Philippe Chiappe (FRA) China CTIC Team @ 48.54sec
3. Thani Al-Qamzi (ARE) Team Abu Dhabi L1
4. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team L1
5. Ahmed Al-Hameli (ARE) Emirates Team L1
6. Marit Stromoy (NOR) Team EMIC L1
7. Duarte Benavente (PRT) F1 GC Atlantic Team L1
8. Bartek Marszalak (POL) Motorglass F1 Team L3
9. Youssef Al-Rubayan (KUW) F1 GC Atlantic Team L3
10. Christophe Larigot (FRA) Team EMIC L4 2015 UIM F1 H2O World Championship - after round 5:
1. Philippe Chiappe (FRA) China CTIC Team 70 pts
2. Shaun Torrente (USA) Victory Team 39 pts
2. Alex Carella (ITA) Team Abu Dhabi 39 pts
4. Youssef Al-Rubayan (KUW) F1 GC Atlantic Team 38 pts
5. Thani Al-Qamzi (ARE) Team Abu Dhabi 32 pts
6. Jonas Andersson (SWE) Team Sweden 29 pts
7. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team 28 pts
8. Erik Stark (SWE) Team Nautica 27 pts
9. Filip Roms (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team 19 pts
10. Marit Stromoy (NOR) Team Nautica 18 pts Team Championship standings 1. Team Abu Dhabi 73pts
2. CTIC China Team 71pts
3. F1 GC Atlantic Team 47pts
3. Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team 47pts
5. Team Sweden 36pts
6. Team EMIC 35pts
7. Emirates Team 23pts
8. Victory Team 19pts 2015 UIM F-4S Trophy - current standings:
1. Mike Szymura (DEU) F1 GC Atlantic Team 94 pts
2. Joakhim Halvorsen (NOR) Team EMIC 58 pts
3. Mohammed Al-Mehairbi (ARE) Team Abu Dhabi 51 pts
4. Anton Nyholm (FIN) Team Sweden 40 pts
5. Rashed Al-Qemzi (ARE) Team Abu Dhabi 35 pts
6. Ferdinand Zandbergen (NED) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team 31 pts
7. Bingchen Wu (CHN) CTIC China Team 30 pts
8. Christian Cesati (ITA) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team 27 pts
9. Mansoor Al-Mansoori (ARE) Emirates Team 24 pts
9. Briney Rigby (AUS) Team Sweden 24 pts
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