2009-11-27 20:26:56
Doha, 27 Nov. 2009 (WAM) - Team Abu Dhabi's Thani Al-Qamzi finished a fine second overall in the Grand Prix of Qatar, round 11 of this year's UIM F1 World Championship, in Doha Bay on Friday afternoon and regained a seven-point lead in the 2009 UIM F1 Drivers' Championship.

Despite a drive-through penalty, the Emirati managed to claw his way through the back-markers and pass Phillipe Chiappe to shadow race winner Guido Cappellini to the finish. Retirements for Sami Selio and Jay Price aided Team Abu Dhabi's cause still further and Al-Qamzi passed Jonas Andersson to retake the championship lead.

"This was just the result I needed," said a delighted Al-Qamzi. "Putting points on the board in a difficult race was crucial and it is a great feeling to have the lead in the championship again." Ahmed Al-Hameli climbed as high as third overall in the first 20 minutes of the race before suffering a drive-through penalty and eventually retiring on unlucky lap 13.

Al-Qamzi and Al-Hameli began race weekend in second and seventh positions in the UIM F1 Drivers' Championship and started the race from fifth and fourth on the grid behind pole winner Selio, Price and Cappellini. A good start into the first buoy was critical, but Al-Hameli jumped the initial start and boats were called back to the pontoon for a restart, despite the fact that Selio led the pack through lap one on the false start.

Selio managed to fend off Price and Cappellini through the opening lap, although both Al-Hameli and Al-Qamzi were forced to run a penalty lap for the starting infringement and were classified in seventh and eighth places after lap five. Selio dramatically stopped with mechanical problems on the third lap and Price took up the lead from Cappellini.

But the World Champion was sidelined on lap six, as Cappellini led from Phillipe Chiappe and a flying Al-Hameli in his BaBa, who climbed to third overall after nine laps. Al-Qamzi moved up to fifth overall behind Germany's Fabian Kalsow, but Cappellini extended his overall lead to 11.37s through lap 11. Al-Hameli was forced to run a second drive-through penalty after lap 10 and slipped back to 12th overall and eventually retired from the race on unlucky lap 13.

In hazy and humid conditions, Al-Qamzi managed to work his way passed Chiappe to claim second position on lap 19 and closed the gap on the Italian leader to 17.06s. The Italian coped admirably with the pressure to secure the race win and move up to third in the title race.

Team Abu Dhabi runs under the auspices of the ADIMSC and the management of Salem Al-Rumaithi and Scott Gillman, with full support from the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), His Excellency Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al-Nahyan and His Royal Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan.

Timed trials and free practice Selio set the early pace in the timed trials, although Al-Hameli and Al-Qamzi were well-placed in fourth and fifth positions through the first quarter of an hour of the 45-minute session. A yellow flag for Thomas Cermak's accident - which ruled him out of the race - brought the session to a brief halt after 20 minutes, but the Team Abu Dhabi duo remained in fourth and fifth places behind Selio, Price and Cappellini and held on to maintain their positions at the end of the session.

The Team Abu Dhabi pairing held fourth and sixth in the UIM F1 Pole Position Championship before the Doha meeting and duly headed into Saturday's trials in similar positions.

Al-Qamzi had been one of the first drivers out on the course for the free practice session in calm conditions. He posted a 47.02s tour early on, but Cappellini took over as the early pacesetter and held the fastest lap for the first 30 minutes. Al-Hameli then hit the front of the 18-boat field with a lap of 44.63s heading into the final 15 minutes of the stint, as Price passed a troubled Cappellini to take the second fastest time.

Al-Qamzi ran for a total of 22 laps and recorded the third fastest time of 44.71s, after a useful practice session for Team Abu Dhabi.

Tomorrow (Saturday) morning, boats will again be permitted a one-hour practice session on the course from 10.15 hrs (UAE time), before the second timed trials to determine race two starting order get underway at 12.15 hrs (UAE time).

Saturday's second Grand Prix of Qatar is due to start at 15.00 hrs (16.00 hrs UAE time) and the action will be shown live on the Abu Dhabi Sports Channel.

WAM/MAB