Dubai: Three-time defending world champion Philippe Chiappe will be wary of fresh challenges as 20 drivers representing nine teams from 12 countries line up for the 21st Grand Prix of France in Evian this weekend.
The second round of the 2017 UIM F1H2O World Championship will be held on Lac Leman with teams using a long two-month break to address and resolve issues with their boats since the opener in Algarve, Portugal in April.
Chiappe, who successfully defended his world crown in Sharjah at the end of last year, got the ideal start in Portugal as the Frenchman pocketed full points in Algarve despite Victory Team’s Shaun Torrente leading for ten laps after starting in Pole Position at the end of April. Chiappe’s CTIC F1 Shenzhen Team has been testing on Lac Leman for the past one week, and the Frenchman will decide with teammate Peter Morin whether he will start with his old boat or a new one, this weekend.
“We are totally prepared for this race and we realise how important it is for us to build up on what we did in Portugal,” Chiappe told Gulf News from Evian.
“We are sticking to the winning combination from Portugal and weather willing, we can win some more points and strengthen our position for the drivers’ and the teams’ championships this year too,” the Frenchman added.
Sami Selio notched his first F1 win on French waters in La Rochelle in 2007, and the Finnish pilot from Mad Croc Baba Racing will be hoping for a repeat as he chases a third world crown this season. With 15 points following a second spot in Portugal, Selio will be looking to consolidate further along with teammate Filip Roms, and keep the pressure on leader Chiappe.
Third in his home grand prix in Algarve in April, F1 Atlantic’s Duarte Benavente is one of the few drivers who have been consistent in the past few races. He is the only driver to have finished in the points in the last eight races, and with third place in Portugal he is capable of combining with rookie teammate Grant Trask and finishing better than the seventh overall last season.
Representing Team Abu Dhabi, three-time world champion Alex Carella was most impressive last time when he finished in fourth place despite starting off in 15th on the grid. Carella won in Evian last year, and this time around the Italian will be hoping his teammates Thani and Rashid Al Qamzi come good so that the Abu Dhabi set-up can be among genuine contenders for the teams’ honours this season.
Among the challengers this time around will be the Victory Team’s Shaun Torrente and Ahmad Al Hameli. “The idea is to go and win as many points as possible in France,” Torrente said.
“We did well in Portugal but luck was not on our side as both of us didn’t win any points. We’ve spent a lot of time re-doing the engines and hopefully we will achieve our goal in Evian,” the American added.
All teams will be involved with the official free practice from 4.50pm to 5.50pm (UAE time) on Friday, followed by a second practice from 12.15 to 1.15pm on Saturday. On the same day, the BRM Qualifying will be held from 6.20pm to 7.20pm followed by the Pole Position from 7.30pm. The Grand Prix of France will be held from 5pm — 6pm on Sunday.
STANDINGS
2017 UIM F1 H2O Drivers’ World Championships: 1. Philippe Chiappe (CTIC F1 Shenzhen China) 20 pts; 2. Sami Selio (Mad-Croc Baba Racing) 15; 3. Duarte Benavente (F1 Atlantic Team) 12; 4. Alex Carella (Team Abu Dhabi) 9; 5. Bartek Marszalek (Blaze Performance) 7; 6. Cedric Deguisne (Maverick F1) 5; 7. Trask Grant (F1 Atlantic Team) 4; 8. Erik Stark (Team Sweden) 3; 9. Peter Morin (CTIC F1 Shenzhen China) 2.
2017 UIM F1 H2O Teams’ World Championships: 1. CTIC F1 Shenzhen China (22pts); 2. F1 Atlantic Team (16); 3. Mad-Croc Baba Racing (15); 4. Team Abu Dhabi (9); 5. Blaze Performance (7); Maverick F1 (5); Team Sweden (3).
