All to play for as Chiappe wins in Abu Dhabi

1.2137615-2521715276 — Team Abu Dhabi’s Alex Carella will have to wait until next weekend’s Grand Prix of Sharjah to make his final push for a fourth UIM F1 H2O Image Credit: Organisers

Abu Dhabi: Team Abu Dhabi’s Alex Carella will have to wait until next weekend’s Grand Prix of Sharjah to attempt to claim a fourth UIM F1 H2O World Championship title after finishing third in a scintillating 25th Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi off the Abu Dhabi Breakwater on Friday afternoon.

Triple World Champion Philippe Chiappe of the CTIC Shenzhen China Team didn’t read the Team Abu Dhabi script and the Frenchman delivered a stunning start-to-finish victory to reduce the Italian’s lead to 11 points with 20 points at stake for a win next week and 15 for second place. It means Carella will need to finish third or higher to claim his crown if Chiappe manages to win the race.

Norwegian Marit Stromoy missed out on her second Grand Prix victory by just 2.37 seconds, but it was a stunning drive by the only female in the championship. Team Sweden’s Erik Stark ceded another five points to Carella with fifth place and cannot catch now the Team Abu Dhabi driver at the final round. Victory Team’s Shaun Torrente finished fourth and Team Sweden’s Jonas Andersson rounded off the top six.

The result means that Carella and Chiappe will go head-to-head on Khaled Lagoon and the pair will also be working closely with their respective teams to try and clinch the UIM Teams’ Championship. Team Abu Dhabi currently hold a 33-point advantage over Team Sweden and 35 points over the CTIC Shenzhen China Team.

Carella said: “I am quite happy with this performance actually. It was a tough race. I did what I could. I pushed and closed the gap to Marit many times but it was just too risky. I think we really have to push at the maximum next week.”

With technical issues sidelining a disappointed Bartek Marszalek, Matthew Palfreyman and Erik Edin, only 18 boats lined up the starting pontoon for the 52-lap race and engine changes forced Mike Szymura and Sami Selio to the bottom of the running order.

Chiappe led into the first turn buoy from Stromoy, Carella, Torrente and Stark, but the race was yellow flagged when Sami Selio and Cedric Deguisne came together spectacularly at Turn 5. Selio’s BABA ended up inverted in the water and the double World Champion’s miserable season reached a new low.

Racing resumed on Lap 6 and the leading five boats held station with Chiappe extending his advantage.

But Stromoy was in superb form and after Lap 12 began to reduce Chiappe’s lead as the leader began to catch some tail-enders. Both Mike Szymura and Amaury Jousseaume retired and the field had already been reduced to just 14 boats before Lap 15.

Chiappe maintained his composure and benefited from a lighter fuel load to maintain his lead over the pursuing Norwegian and the series leader. The Frenchman reached the chequered flag to claim a deserved win.

Deguisne was later red-carded for dangerous driving after his collision with Selio and will miss the final race of the season.

2017 UIM F1 H2O World Championship

Result

1. Philippe Chiappe (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team 52 laps

2. Marit Stromoy (NOR) Emirates Racing Team 2.37sec

3. Alex Carella (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi 9.51sec

4. Shaun Torrente (USA) Victory Team 18.01sec

5. Erik Stark (SWE) Team Sweden 26.76sec

2017 UIM F1 H2O World Championship — positions after round 5:

1. Alex Carella (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi 70pts

2. Philippe Chiappe (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team 59pts

3. Erik Stark (SWE) Team Sweden 49pts