Abu Dhabi: Team Abu Dhabi continue their exciting summer tour of major European powerboating events after deciding to enter two drivers in the forthcoming Norwegian round of the UIM F2 World Championship in Tonsberg on August 5-7.
Emirati drivers Rashid Al Qamzi and Mohammad Al Mehairbi have been entered in the fourth round of the prestigious series at the helm of Team Abu Dhabi 35 and 36.
It will be the third foray into F2 racing for the team running out of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) after Al Qamzi and Al Mehairbi took part in the second round at Campione d’Italia on Lake Lugano. Adverse weather conditions disrupted that event, but failed to prevent the Emirati duo from finishing an impressive sixth and 14th on their F2 racing debuts.
Sweden’s Pierre Lundin claimed the winners’ spoils from England’s Matt Palfreyman and Sweden’s Erik Edin.
Alex Carella, the current UIM F1 H2O World Championship leader, represented Team Abu Dhabi at the opening round in Peurunka in Finland and was deprived of outright victory by a post-race technicality.
Al Qamzi and Al Mehairbi were not able to attend the third round at Tvedestrand, because of a direct date clash with the Augustów Endurance Race on Necko Lake in Poland, but the Team Abu Dhabi duo are confident that they can build upon recent performances and push for the podium against strong opposition in southern Norway.
Erik Edin currently holds a one-point lead in the championship after finishing third on Lake Lugano and winning the last round in Tvedestrand, but Pierre Lundin is breathing down his neck and the young Italian member of Team Abu Dhabi’s endurance team, Alberto Comparato, is third.
Al Qamzi collected five points for his efforts in Campione d’Italia, but challenging for the title is not one of the real targets this season for either of the Team Abu Dhabi drivers.
“Entering these challenging races is all about giving our drivers as much experience as we can against the best racers in the world,” said Salem Al Romaithi, assistant general manager of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC).
“Rashid and Mohammad have made rapid progress this year and have been setting impressive lap times in both Formula and Endurance racing. This has been an exciting summer for Team Abu Dhabi and it is important that we continue to nurture our local talent and promote the emirate of Abu Dhabi on a world stage in a truly international sporting spotlight.”
Team Abu Dhabi is sponsored by Etihad Airways and runs under the patronage of Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, advisor to the Head of State and chairman of the board of directors of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC).
