Dubai: Emirates Racing Team’s Ahmad Al Hameli announced his forceful return to the circuit with an outstanding win of the Liuzhou Grand Prix, the fifth round of the 2016 UIM F1 H2O World Championships held on Monday.
Laid out on the sidelines for the past few years due to an urgent surgery following a brain tumour, this was Al Hameli’s first win since taking the Qatar Grand Prix way back in 2012. Al Hameli completed the 50 laps on Liu River more than six seconds clear of two-time defending world champion Philippe Chiappe of the CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team, while Finland’s Sami Selio of the Mad Croc Baba Racing Team completed the podium spots a further 12.68 seconds off the champion.
Victory Team’s Shaun Torrente maintained his sights on the overall crown after finishing a further 17.37 seconds behind in fourth, while Al Hameli’s teammate Erik Stark from Sweden completed the top-five a further 32.90 seconds adrift.
“I can’t believe it has been nearly five years since I last won a race. But I am eternally thankful as a lot has happened in my life and I simply so grateful to be here since my life has come full circle,” Al Hameli said after the race in China.
“And now that I’m back I feel truly blessed to follow my passion on behalf of such a wonderful set-up of the Emirates Racing Team,” he added.
With Al Hameli starting in Pole Position ahead of Chiappe in the 18-boat field, it was Carella pushing the top two. And while Al Hameli held his line from the French driver of the CTIC Team, Sami Selio managed to sneak past Carella into third place.
By the fifth lap, Al Hameli was nearly three seconds clear of Chiappe while Selio, Carella and Torrente continued their chase. As the race continued, Polish driver Bartak Marszalak retired followed by Marit Stromoy who stopped with technical issues. And then Carella was forced to stop, also with technical issues giving Al Hameli a completely flat and clean course to keep away the chasing Chiappe, Selio and Torrente at bay.
The results at the Liuzhou Grand Prix Chiappe did not change too many things at the top of the overall standings as Chiappe continued to lead with 67 points followed by Victory Team’s Torrente with 54 and Selio in third with 47. “It was very hot out there and even though I came within half a second of Ahmad late in the race, I realised the points were more important than pushing too hard,” Chiappe said.
“We have a comfortable lead at the top in the overall standings, and from now on, we need to see how best we can consolidate this further with just 40 points on offer in the final two rounds in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in December,” he added.
Results for the 2016 Liuzhou Grand Prix: 1. Ahmad Al Hameli (UAE) Emirates Racing Team 50 laps; 2. Philippe Chiappe (France) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team +6.37secs; 3. Sami Selio (Finland) Mad Croc Baba Racing +12.68; 4. Shaun Torrente (USA) Victory Team +17.37; 5. Erik Stark (Sweden) Emirates Racing Team +32.90; 6. Thani Al Qamzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi; 7. Jonas Andersson (Sweden) Team Sweden; 8. Duarte Benavente (Portugal) F1 Atlantic Team; 9. Mike Szymura (Germany) EMIC Racing Team; 10. Filip Roms (Finland) Mad Croc Baba Racing.
2016 UIM F1H2O World Championship — Drivers’ Championship standings: 1. Philippe Chiappe (France) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team — 67 pts; 2. Shaun Torrente (USA) Victory Team 54; 3. Sami Selio (Finland) Mad Croc Baba Racing 47; 4. Alex Carella (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi 42; 5. Jonas Andersson (Sweden) Team Sweden 37; 6. Ahmad Al Hameli (UAE) Emirates Racing Team 25; 7. Duarte Benavente (Portugal) F1 Atlantic Team 19; 7. Erik Stark (Sweden) Emirates Racing Team 19; 9. Filip Roms (Finland) Mad Croc Baba Racing 18.
