Evian-les-Baines: Team Abu Dhabi’s Erik Stark, Thani Al Qamzi and Shaun Torrente clinched a historic 1-2-3 finish in Sunday’s French Grand Prix, round three of the eight stage F1 Powerboat World Championship.
The sensational result also sees Stark, Al Qamzi and Torrente make it 1-2-3 in the drivers standings and Abu Dhabi take control of the team’s championship.
Al Qamzi, who started from second on the grid, pushed pole leader Stark and both hung on despite two yellow flag stoppages, while Torrente, climbed to third after starting from seventh.
One of the stoppages involved defending champion Alex Carella of Dubai’s Team Victory, who was hospitalised with a broken leg following a crash on lap 24 of 42.
Torrente said: “This is a fantastic result for the team. It’s historic with a 1-2-3 and we are 1-2-3 in the championship. I was really happy with my drive. Coming from behind, it was one of my better drives. I took my chances when I needed to without being overly aggressive. The boats were prepared so well. We had exactly the same set-ups on all three boats.”
Elsewhere, Dubai’s Team Victory vowed to regroup after Carella’s injury. Their drivers Ahmad Al Hameli and Carella started from 10th and 13th on the grid, and while Carella failed to finish, Al Hameli finished ninth. Al Hameli and Carella are now seventh and eighth in the standings with five rounds to go.
Victory chairman Huraiz Almur Mohammad Bin Huraiz, said: “We have had a difficult start to the championship, but I am confident we can end on the winner’s podium at the end of the season in Sharjah.”
The next round of the championship is in Xiangyang, China on September 22-23.
