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F1 drivers promise an exciting fare
Drivers have promised an exciting race weekend as they take to the Khalid Lagoon waters for the 2008 Sharjah Grand Prix - the final round on the UIM F1 World Powerboat Championship today and tomorrow.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:39 December 10, 2008
- Image Credit: Devadasan/Gulf News
- Gillman Scott of Emirates F1 team in action during the pole position run for the Sharjah Grand prix of the UIM F1 powerboat championship at the Khalid Lagoon.
Sharjah: Drivers have promised an exciting race weekend as they take to the Khalid Lagoon waters for the 2008 Sharjah Grand Prix - the final round on the UIM F1 World Powerboat Championship today and tomorrow.
"I have already won the world title last week, but that does not mean that I will take things easy this weekend. I will be going all out for a win here," promised Qatar Team's new F1 World Champion Jay Price.
In fact, Price has a score to settle in Sharjah. In the last two starts that he made, he has not been able to either finish the race or has been disqualified at the last moment. "So we will run as hard as we can as I believe there are a lot of drivers out there who want to go and finish the season with a win," Price stated.
Following last week's win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the New Orleans-based Price sits at the top of the overall world standings with 105 points. Chasing him, in competition for the second place are four drivers including Team Abu Dhabi's Ahmad Al Hamli (55pts), Finland's Sami Selio (54), Swedish ace Jonas Anderson (50) and Australian driver David Trask (41).
"And with 20 points up for grabs this weekend, the situation can change for any of these four drivers," stated Nicolo di San Germano, the F1 promoter.
And there are another four drivers who can be mathematically involved in the fight for third place overall in the world standings. "So there is going to be a lot of excitement as far as racing goes," San Germano promised.
A comparative fresh face to the world of F1 racing, Price has been phenomenal for the Qatar Team this season. He has won three of the seven rounds so far and ended in second position in another three. In Abu Dhabi he started off in sixth place and finished ahead of the chasing pack with a 23-seconds lead.
"I want to win after starting from the front this week," Price promised.
But standing in his way will be world champions such as Sami Selio or the home-bred Al Hamli, who is in a strong position to clinch the runners-up spot in the world standings. "We want to end the season with at least the Pole Position title," stated Team Abu Dhabi manager Scott Gillman, a former world champion.
"..we are hopeful Ahmad (Al Hamli) can keep the pressure on the runner-up spot," Gillman said.
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