Podium Newcomers In China Make Season Memorable!
LAUSANNE, Switzerland – 20th of October, 2006 – “Who are those guys”???? That’s what many people may have been thinking worldwide when they took a look at the photographs of the top-3 drivers at the Grand Prix of China two weeks ago.
Sure, the man at the top of the podium was 3-time World Champion American Scott Gillman of the Emirates Team taking his 22nd victory and his 50th podium appearance in his 10th U.I.M. F1 World Championship season. However, the two drivers next to him were new to the post race excitement and had many people wondering who they were. To Gillman’s right was another American Jay Price of the Qatar Team, who in only his 5th career start took a well earned 2nd place in his BABA boat. It was the first time 12 years, since the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi that USA drivers were 1-2 since Felix Seralles of Ponce, Puerto Rico and Mike Seebold of St. Louis, Missouri did so in the inner harbor back in 1994.
Joining the American duo on the podium at the Grand Prix of China was Australian driver David Trask of the XPV Racing Team becoming only the 2nd driver from Australia ever to reach the podium and the first since countryman Craig Bailey did so when winning the 1990 Grand Prix of France. The 35 year-old from Brisbane, Australia finished 3rd and made the top-3 in only his 18th career start.
So, two of the three drivers in China on the podium where first timers but more importantly history was being made since it was the first time in 20 years, August of 1986, when no one on the top three steps were from Europe. The last time this happened was at Beaumont, Texas when Americans Gene Thibodaux, Jonnie Sanders and Barry Woods reached the podium in the final year of V-8 F1 racing.
The 1986 year also saw the late-great Art Kennedy the only African-American driver ever in F1 take 2nd in the title with ex-world title holder Cees van der Velden of the Netherlands 3rd in the championship, Rick Frost of Great Britain 4th and Ben Robertson of the USA 5th at seasons end.
The 1994 season, was the last time we saw two American’s finish 1-2. Mike Seebold won at Johr Bahru in Malaysia, father Bill Seebold won in Thailand at Sattahip Bay while Seralles took the final race in Abu Dhabi. Three different American’s winning 3-straight races at the end of a season when Italian Guido Cappellini taking his 2nd of 9 titles winning the title with one that season.
How rare is an American 1-2 finish? Well, this season marks the 25th Anniversary year of the sport and prior to this season this has happened only four other times. The first, happening in 1985 and three more in the mainly North American featured races in 1986.
The first American ever to win a U.I.M. F1 World Championship race was the renowned World Title holder Bill Seebold winning in Bristol in 1982 with a V-6 motor against the V-8 competition in England.
So, as we focus on the U.I.M. F1 World Championship and its 193rd all-time Grand Prix race at the upcoming 14th Annual Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi on the 8th of December. Will other newcomers become major players in the history of this sport? It will be hard to match the drama that was the Grand Prix of China, but a trip to the Emirates is always the crowning jewel of the season. The United Arab Emirates is historically the place where world champions are crowned on the water and this year won’t be any different. The Emirates driver Scott Gillman leads the title with 50 points followed closely by Italian Guido Cappellini close behind with 45 points.
The combined World Titles between these two drivers is 12 in the past 13 years. This year will mark the fifth time these drivers have taken their title hopes to the Emirates to decide a championship. The score thus far; Cappellini winning two from Gillman and Scott winning two from Guido. This is a good reason to understand the historic nature of this sport and why it’s important to keep track of past history. Is there a trend here? Stay tuned.
