Team Abu Dhabi earns mixed plaudits in China

Liuzhou, China : Team Abu Dhabi endured a day of mixed fortunes at the Grand Prix of China on the Liu River in Liuzhou yesterday.

Thani Al Qamzi claimed second position and moved into joint second overall in the UIM F1 Drivers' Championship, but time trial winner and pole position sitter Ahmad Al Hameli was forced out of third place mid-way through the race with mechanical problems.

The Qatar Team's Jay Price led from start-to-finish in his DAC and now holds a nine-point lead in the championship at the season's mid-point.

Team Abu Dhabi's Rashid Al Tayer moved up to fourth in the Eurofin F4 Drivers' Championship standings after taking a similar position in the second F4 race yesterday afternoon. He will trade his place with Majid Al Mansouri for the F4 races at next week's Shenzhen race meeting.

Al Hameli and Al Qamzi started from first and third on the grid, but Price made a good start behind the Swedish racer Jonas Andersson, who appeared to jump the start flag.

Penalty

The Swede was forced to carry out a drive through penalty and Price slotted into the lead from Selio, Al Qamzi and Al Hameli.

Andersson duly completed his penalty lap, as Marit Stromoy pulled up with technical problems.

Al Qamzi and Al Hameli maintained third and fourth places through 10 of the planned 37 laps, but Selio began to fall back with technical issues and the UAE pair inherited second and third overall.