Abu Dhabi is world powerboating capital

Abu Dhabi: As Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club gears up to stage yet another Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship race on Friday, the sport's promoter, Nicolo di San Germano, said Abu Dhabi was the ‘Formula One capital of the world'.

"Year after year, the link between Formula One powerboating and Abu Dhabi is getting stronger and stronger. We have had a long relationship with Abu Dhabi with Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Adviser to the President of the UAE and Chairman of Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, giving us strong support over the years," San Germano said during yesterday's press conference to announce the sixth round of this year's championship series.

"They have staged F1 races the most number of times and having also staged the F1 in car racing also, Abu Dhabi is the F1 capital," he said.

Pride

"Team Abu Dhabi have won the inaugural F1 Nations Cup held ten days ago and I congratulate them on that victory," said the F1 boss adding talks were under way to stage one leg of the championship in Venice next year.

Ahmad Al Rumaithi, ADIMSC Board member, said: "Abu Dhabi takes pride in organising this event for the 18th year in a row and this is our 20th Formula One race. The keenness of Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club to host such international events stems from its belief in the role this championship plays in activating tourism in host cities, as it is watched by at least 70 million viewers all over the world," he added.

Team Abu Dhabi's Thani Al Qamzi is still in with a chance to win the world title this weekend, in which 18 powerboats from around the world are taking part. Al Qamzi (55 points) is currently in third place behind Jay Price (67) and Alex Carella (64) and with 20, 15 and 12 points of offer for the top three places in the final two events including Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, the championship title-fight is expected to go to the wire.

While Al Qamzi is on the hunt for the World Championship, his Abu Dhabi team mate Ahmad Al Hameli, has a chance to win the Pole Position Championship and is full of confidence after winning the recent Nations Cup in Singapore.

Al Hameli is only ten points behind Carella in the Pole Position Championship, with a possible 40 at stake over the next two weekends.

The 2011 UIM F1 World Drivers' Championship — latest positions: 1. Jay Price, Qatar Team, 67pts. 2. Alex Carella, Qatar Team 64 pts. 3. Thani Al-Qamzi, Team Abu Dhabi, 55 pts.