LIUZHOU,China – Sunday, October 2, 2011 – Thani Al Qamzi of Team Abu Dhabi passed his teammate Ahmed Al Hameli with two laps to the finish, snapping his 27 race winless streak on the UIM F1 H2O World Championship tour, to move closer to a shot at his first world title at the 16th Grand Prix of China on Liu River in front of thousands of spectators in Liuzhou, China.
The 32 year-old driver, who had qualified fourth and who was in second place, took advantage of a re-start passing his teammate with just two laps to go winning by 3.19 seconds for his sixth career victory.
“It was an exciting day for the team and for me,” said Thani. “It's been a long time since I last won but more importantly it's great for the the team to know that both Ahmed and I have a shot for the championship in 2011.”
While to two Team Abu Dhabi boats were flying together in a 1-2 formation at the front of the race, a great three boat battle for third was taking place between Team Qatar driver Jay Price who was just ahead of Philippe Chiappe and defending World Champion Sami Selio. The Finnish driver crashed heavily at the first corner on the 29th lap bringing out the pace boat giving everyone a chance at a re-start where Al Qamzi took full advantage.
On a wild run into the 35th and final lap amistake by points leader Jay Price of the Qatar Team, spinning out in the right hand turn number four, missing the buoy and being disqualified, opened the door for the Frenchman Chiappe to move into third and his seventh career podium for the local CTIC China Team.
“It was a wonderful conclusion for our team and for everyone who follows F1 boat racing in China,” said Philippe. “Now we have the confidence to push for victories and will try to continue our climb up the podium next time around.”
Finishing fourth was Selio's teammate Davide Padovan of the Mad Croc Team who had a career best finish ahead of Alex Carella of the Qatar Team who had a wild day starting 17th and finishing a fine fifth despite slowing at the finish line but picking up valuable championship points.
Italian Francesco Cantando in his 15th visit to China in his 132nd career start, finished a solid sixth for the Singha F1 Team, while Swede Pierre Lundin of the CTIC China group took seventh place.
Rounding out the top ten came veteran Duarte Benavente of the Atlantic Team ahead of a pair of rookies in their first official F1 start in Tommy Walsten of Sweden and Rhys Coles of Australia both driving for Team Sweden.
The race was disrupted on the first lap when French driver Philippe Tourre and Valerio Lagiannella of Italy crashed into each other on the second turn when Tourre looked to have lost his steering control and slid into Lagiannella's path. Both drivers were uninjured but their boats suffered major damage.
So with a Team Abu Dhabi 1-2 finish coupled with Jay Price's disqualification the points chase for the championship has really opened up. Price continues to lead but by only three on his teammate Alex Carella 67 to 64, while winning driver Thani Al Qamzi now have moved closer at 55 points. Ahmed Al Hameli and Philippe Chiappe are tied for fourth place with 35 apiece.
With a bit of time off before the next Grand Prix the focus on the UIM F1 H2O World Championship is coupled between two teams and neighbors of the Middle East, Team Qatar and Team Abu Dhabi. This season is only getting more and more intriguing as the months go by and should take its final dramatic moments all the way to the end by mid-December in Sharjah on the Khalid Lagoon.
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