Abu Dhabi: Experienced racer Thani Al Qamzi has rejoined Team Abu Dhabi for this weekend’s Grand Prix of Portugal, while teammate and three-time UIM F1 H20 world champion Alex Carella aims to bounce back from the shock disqualification that deprived him of victory in France last month.
Carella should be defending a two-point lead in the drivers’ championship on the Douro River in Porto this weekend. However, the loss of 20 points after he had passed the chequered flag at the front of the Grand Prix of France in Evian — when officials said his boat contravened regulations — means the Italian arrives down in equal seventh place in the standings, 22 adrift of his former teammate Shaun Torrente of the Victory Team.
“Rules are rules and we have to accept the decision in France, however disappointing it may have been, and move on,” said Carella. “There are still plenty of chances to make up that lost ground and I have every confidence in everyone at Team Abu Dhabi that we will have a competitive package for this weekend. It’s also great to see Thani returning to the team.”
Al Qamzi, 36, returns to Team Abu Dhabi for the first time this season and replaces the young Italian David del Pin. The Emirati is one of the most experienced of all the Grand Prix drivers, having competed for 14 seasons, and still has the chance to challenge for honours heading into the second half of the season.
Al Qamzi has 111 career Grand Prix starts and will be chasing his first win since Sharjah in 2012.
“I’m excited about returning and am well rested and ready to push for my eighth career victory,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of happy memories in Portugal. I won there in 2009 and I’ve had five top-five finishes in 10 starts there.”
This weekend will also see the return to action of the UIM F-4S racers for the first time this season. Bad weather forced them to miss out on the opening two races in Qatar, while F-4S events were not in the timetable in Evian.
Team Abu Dhabi may run one or two boats in the 20-minute races on Saturday and Sunday, with Rashed Al Qemzi, Mohammad Al Mehairbi and Rashed Al Remeithi all available to race.
After technical scrutineering and extra free practice on Friday, the action gets underway with F-4S free practice and timed trials from 3.10pm UAE time on Saturday afternoon. Free practice for the F1 racers takes centre stage from 4.30pm and qualifying is scheduled for 7.30pm after the first of the two F-4S races.
Further free practice and timed trials take place on Sunday morning and the second of the F-4S Trophy races starts at 7pm. The Grand Prix of Portugal is scheduled for 8.15pm UAE time.
