UIM Class One World Powerboat Championship: Victory 3 pips Team Abu Dhabi to fastest speed of 142mph in Class 1’s Kilo Run

Abu Dhabi: The exciting concept of a Kilo Run gave teams a break from competing in three races for the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship title at the Abu Dhabi Breakwater on Wednesday afternoon and followed an action-packed morning’s practice session.

A spectacular crash for Team Abu Dhabi 5’s Rashid Al Tayer and Majid Al Mansouri dampened local spirits, despite the fastest time of that session falling to Team Abu Dhabi 6’s John Tomlinson and Gary Ballough. The stint also marked the first official XCAT appearance of triple UIM F1 H20 World Champion, Alex Carella, in Team Abu Dhabi 55.

With races two and three in the UIM Class 1 World Championship scheduled for Thursday and Friday, officials at the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) included the Kilo Run in the timetable. Boats ran in reverse order from how they finished pole position qualifying on Tuesday and their maximum speed was measured by radar between a designated buoy and a gate. Each boat was permitted three runs to determine their highest speed.

Victory 3’s Arif Saif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi left it until their third run to confirm victory. They ran an opener of 137mp/h to cancel out Team Abu Dhabi 6’s first run of 134mp/h, but John Tomlinson and Gary Ballough hit back with a 139mp/h second run with the pair of Mercury QC4 turbocharged V8’s rev limiters set at 6,350rpm.

Victory 3’s second attempt was deemed null and void after the Dubai crew passed the wrong side of the flying finish gate. Team Abu Dhabi 6 couldn’t better their 139mp/h attempt with a final run of 137mp/h, however, and that opened the door for Victory to snatch the win with a flying final sprint of 142mp/h, the Victory V12s screaming their way down the straight.

Team Abu Dhabi are sponsored by Etihad Airways and runs under the patronage of Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President’s Adviser and chairman of the board of directors of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC).

Admission is free for spectators on Thursday and Friday and a food court and entertainment are in situ throughout race days, adjacent to the pit area, on the Abu Dhabi Breakwater. Class 1 race two action gets underway at 3.30pm on Thursday afternoon, although teams will carry out pole position qualifying at 10.30am

2016 UIM Class 1 World Championship — Kilo Run result (Wednesday):

1. Victory 3 — Arif Saif Al Zafeen (UAE)/Nadir Bin Hendi (UAE) 142mph

2. Team Abu Dhabi 6 — John Tomlinson (USA)/Gary Ballough (USA) 139mph

3. Aquasport 99 — Nick Huybens (BEL)/Daniel Cramphorn (GBR) 132mph

4. Zabo Racing-Relekta 91 — Giovanni Carpitella (ITA)/Ian Blacker (GBR) 123mph

Team Abu Dhabi 5 — Rashid Al Tayer (UAE)/Majid Al Mansouri (UAE) DNS

2016 UIM Class 1 World Championship — Official practice times (Wednesday):

1. Team Abu Dhabi 6 — John Tomlinson (USA)/Gary Ballough (USA) 2min 44.322sec

2. Team Abu Dhabi 5 — Rashid Al Tayer (UAE)/Majid Al Mansouri (UAE) 2min 48.187sec

3. Zabo Racing-Relekta 91 — Giovanni Carpitella (ITA)/Ian Blacker (GBR) 2min 58.557sec

4. Aquasport 99 — Nick Huybens (BEL)/Daniel Cramphorn (GBR) 3min 30.088sec

Victory 3 — Arif Saif Al Zafeen (UAE)/Nadir Bin Hendi (UAE) DNS