English powerboat pilot dies in Gabon crash

Libreville, Gabon: Tragedy struck on Friday afternoon when English powerboat pilot William Nocker died after a crash in a race in which Team Abu Dhabi were participating.

Nocker died after succumbing to injuries he sustained after a crash on lap four of the first two races in the Gabon Grand Prix, round two of the 2012 UIM Class One World Powerboat Championship.

Nocker and teammate Kurt Olsen were transferred to the nearby Omar Bongo Ondimba Military Hospital in Libreville, where Olsen remains in a critical condition.

The race on the Gabon Estuary was red-flagged immediately to allow medical personnel to attend to the Welmax Offshore Racing crew.

As a mark of respect to the pilots and their families, event organisers cancelled Saturday’s second race and all event activities.

Victory 3’s Arif Saif Al Zafein and Mohammad Al Merri were leading at the time of the accident, ahead of Fendi Racing’s Luca Formilli Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella.

Team Abu Dhabi held third and the Emirati duo Rashid Al Tayer and throttleman Majid Al Mansouri were eventually awarded 12 points, which lifted them to second place in the championship — ten points behind Victory 3.

Team Abu Dhabi’s had qualified in third position for the race behind Al Zafein and Al Merri in Victory 3 and Fendi Racing.

However, the latter crew was disqualified from pole position before the race started for a weight infringement, and Team Abu Dhabi were moved up to second place in the line-up before the tragedy struck on lap four.

Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi team’s Class 1 challenge has been boosted by the news that Etihad Airways is now their official carrier.

The team runs under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC).