Abu Dhabi: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Tayer and Faleh Al Mansouri will look to boost their title-challenge in the UIM XCAT World Series on Thursday after a frustrating day in the build-up to Friday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Al Tayer and Al Mansouri, who head into the final round of the series just a point behind XDubai’s defending champions Arif Saif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi, were unable to take part in the Abu Dhabi Match Race, staged to mark UAE National Sports Day, because of engine problems.
“Our left engine developed an electrical problem and the mechanics will work on it overnight to get the boat-ready,” said Al Tayer. “It was disappointing to miss the match race but we still expect to be able to fight for the championship, and hopefully win it.”
Intent on securing a second world powerboat title for the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club in the space of three weeks, Al Tayer and Al Mansouri are looking to earn vital bonus points in the Dubai Duty Speed Cat Run, a dramatic head-to-head shoot-out over a 1km course between the Abu Dhabi Corniche and the breakwater.
Teams carried out their final checks in inclement water conditions today to make their final preparations for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix during official practice and a series of Match Races, hosted by Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club.
Team Abu Dhabi 5 were not the only absentees on the day as both XDubai’s Al Zafeen and Bin Hendi, as well the other crew still in the title hunt, Matteo Nicolini and Tomaso Polli Six, also missed the practice session.
Twelve of the 15 boats were permitted on to the race course for official practice and the Italian T-Bone Station crew of Giovanni Carpitella and Darren Nicholson topped the lap times, despite windy and cloudy conditions and drizzle persisting throughout the one-hour stint.
Majed Al Mansouri and Rashed Al Qemzi in Abu Dhabi 4 ran for four laps and were ranked fifth behind T-Bone Station, Lady Spain, Dubai and Yachts. Al Tayer and Al Mansouri kept their cards close to their chest and didn’t take to the water in the session after a minor left engine issue needed resolving.
Gusty winds created difficulties with the setting of the match race course, delaying the drag race event. With more storm weather on the way, conditions could have a big bearing on the climax of the XCAT World Series.
