Sharjah: Emirates Team's Scott Gillman clinched a fourth world title even as Thani Al Qamzi upstaged him with his first-ever Grand Prix win at the Sharjah Grand Prix held at the Khalid Lagoon on Friday.
With a record 12 world titles between the two world champions, lady luck once again smiled on Gillman as his Italian challenger Guido Cappellini went out midway through the race with an engine fault.
That left the American with the easy task of completing the race. He finished seventh and collected the required points to win the title for the fourth time.
"Once I knew Guido was out, I slowed down and concentrated on winning the race," Gillman told Gulf News.
But it was his young understudy from Abu Dhabi who hogged a major part of the limelight as he powered his boat to an amazing first-time career win. "He's [Al Qamzi] done a fantastic job all season and he deserved to win this one," said Gillman.
"I am so very happy with my very first win," beamed Al Qamzi. "The re-starts did create a bit of problem for me and the boat, but somehow everything went in my favour," the Abu Dhabi driver said.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) was the chief guest and presented the trophies to the winners.
Cappellini was off to an amazing start even as Al Qamzi and Gillman pursued him. Saudi Arabia's Laith Pharaon came in to threaten the top three as the race progressed and Gillman slipped into fourth place.
The first of four yellow flags went up on the eighth lap, and Al Qamzi seized his opportunity to slip past and take the lead with Cappellini happy staving off a Gillman challenge.
Midway through the race, Cappellini's boat suddenly stopped dead and all Gillman had to do was complete the race for a fourth world title.
After Cappellini's departure, Pharaon's boat nipped with Ivan Brigada's and flipped on its head. Luckily the rescue boat was at hand to pull Pharaon to safety.
Coming in second was Cappellini's teammate Ivan Brigada in the second Tamoil boat, while Sweden's Jonas Andersson completed the podium in his Rainbow team boat, 6.49 seconds behind the winner.
The Sharjah Grand Prix was held under the directives of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.
Shaikh Sultan and Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the president of Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, were present at the award ceremony yesterday.
The event was sponsored by Dana Gas along with Al Baddad Tents, ADNOC, Zulal and Super Fab.