Porto: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashid Al Qemzi clinched the UIM F2 World Championship by finishing fourth in Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portugal on the Douro River.
The Emirati started from ninth on the grid and gradually moved up to fourth to ensure enough points to deprive Sweden’s Pierre Lundin the title. Lundin finished second to pole position winner Duarte Benavente, but it wasn’t enough to deny Al Qemzi his second world title in as many years after winning last year’s UIM F4-S Trophy.
“This is a special day for me and everyone within Team Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club,” said Al Qemzi.
“This title is for everyone who has supported me and to the whole team for all their efforts this season. I knew what I had to do. Losing Q3 because of the wind did not help at all, but I managed my race well and we have been rewarded with the World Championship.”
Italy’s Alberto Comparato finished third on the day and Frenchman Nelson Morin was fifth and managed to finish third in the championship standings. Mohammad Al Mehairbi started the race from 17th out of 18 starters in the second Team Abu Dhabi boat and moved up to 16th before succumbing to technical issues after 18 laps.
