Abu Dhabi: Team Abu Dhabi head directly from Harbin in China to the middle of France to run Rashid Al Qamzi and Rashid Al Tayer in two boats at this weekend’s UIM F2 Grand Prix of France on the Saone river in Macon.
The team running out of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) have entered three of the five rounds of the prestigious F2 series so far this season in Campione d’Italia, Tonsberg and Zarasai. It has been a valuable learning experience for both Al Qamzi and Mohammad Al Mehairbi, with both taking top-10 finishes at the last round in Lithuania, and Al Qamzi also finishing ninth in Norway. Al Tayer steps into the breach to replace Al Mehairbi in France this weekend, as the Team Abu Dhabi 35 and 36 boats are prepared for further European race action.
“This race will be another exciting chapter in what has already been a thrilling and successful season for all our drivers across several racing disciplines” said Salem Al Romaithi, assistant general manager of ADIMSC. “We know that the competition is very strong in F2 and that’s why our drivers need to compete against the very best.”
Team Abu Dhabi are sponsored by Etihad Airways and run under the patronage of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, adviser to the Head of State and chairman of the board of directors of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club.
Sweden’s Erik Edin leads this year’s UIM F2 World Championship, despite missing out on the win in Zarasai recently and eventually finishing fifth. The Swede is tied on 55 points, with fellow countryman Pierre Lundin and the pair are 23 points ahead of third-placed Rupert Temper of Austria.
England’s Matthew Palfreyman is fourth on 30 points and victory in Lithuania has lifted Latvian driver Uvis Slakteris to sixth behind Italy’s Alberto Comparato. Al Qamzi holds 14th position after missing two rounds of the seven-race series in Peurunka and Tvedestrand earlier.
