Dubai: Two Italian boats will tussle with a couple from the UAE and one from Spain in the battle for honours at this weekend’s Dubai Grand Prix — the second round of the 2015 UIM XCAT Powerboat World Series at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC).

In last month’s dramatic first round in Fujairah, which was postponed for a day due to dangerously high winds and rough seas, Rashid Al Tayer and Faleh Al Mansouri’s Team Abu Dhabi took top spot with a total of 36 points.

Just six points behind them is the Italian duo of Tomaso Polli and Matteo Nicolini in Hoorsenbuhs, while another of the new additions to the series, Swecat Racing (Erik Stark and Mikael Bengtsson), occupy third spot with 28 points.

Last year’s world champions Fazza, with Arif Al Zafein and Nader Bin Hindi on board, made a clean sweep of all the races last season but are languishing in eighth spot after they were forced to retire when their engine caught fire.

Their seven points were earned by their victory in the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run, which for the first time this year counts towards the overall series points total. They will be looking to return to that familiar top step of the podium in Dubai on Friday and Saturday.

Fazza were cautious in their comeback on Thursday, when they started off with a new boat called XDubai, also from the Victory Team stable. They were timed third best in official practice with a time of 2min 39.48sec on their second lap.

Showing early intent was the combination of Giovanni Carpitella and Ahmad Al Hameli in their T-Bone Station boat. They set the best time of 2:36.39, while Salem Al Adidi and Eisa Al Ali in their Dubai boat were second in 2:39.04.

Lady Spain, with multiple F1 world champion Jay Price and Roberto Lo Piano at the helm, was fourth, while Hoorsenbuhs was fifth.

Friday’s action will begin in the Mina Seyahi waters at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) with the pole position run at 11am, followed in the afternoon with the head-to-head Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run.

The main event — the Dubai GP — is set for 3pm on Saturday.

Entry to the public areas at DIMC is free of charge.