ABU DHABI - Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - It seem like a lifetime ago, but for Sami Selio the 2007 and 2010 World Champion on the UIM F1 H2O World Championship tour hasn't scored a pole position in Abu Dhabi since, well, 2013 and is hungry to do it again tomorrow when 19 drivers from 12 nations take to the sheltered waters just inside the Gulf for the 24th Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.

For the 40 year-old driver from Helsinki, Finland, who has 23 career pole positions, his 2015 campaign is just now coming together after a rough start. He crashed out in two of the first three races beginning in Doha in March and again in Porto, Portugal in July all but ending his dream of a third title.

However, there is still at least a slim chance, trailing leader and current champion Philippe Chiappe of France by 36 points with 40 points still up for grabs in the final two rounds of the championship.

"I'm always an eternal optimist," said Sami. "Hey we battled back in 2007 and again in 2010 to win the title and this time around, it's going to be a tougher challenge, but, until we are officially ruled out, we will fight 110% to win both races and it all begins on Thursday with qualifying and earning pole position."

Don't bet against the Mad Croc Baba Team driver who has five poles in Abu Dhabi in the last nine races which means his track record shows he is better than a 50/50 chance of doing it again on Thursday afternoon.

"We've had great success here and I just love to race on this water," stated the 17 year veteran. "The circuit here is fast, really fast, and most every year calm, which makes it truly one of the swiftest race courses anywhere in the world today on water."

For the 12 Grand Prix winning driver he has gone an uncharacteristically 10 races in a row without a victory last capturing the top step of the podium back, yes, in Abu Dhabi in 2013.

Sami, was hoping to break that string earlier this season while leading at Porto from pole position before the current championship leader and current World Champion Philippe Chiappe passed him for the lead. Selio later blew over in a side by side chase with Alex Carella for a podium position late in the event.

"It was not a good situation in Porto and I was bitterly disappointed," said Selio. "Now it's all about winning and taking pole position and hoping for luck to quickly get back in the championship picture this week. If not, we begin for 2016 next week."

Sami's success in Abu Dhabi in qualifying began in 2007 on his way to his first world title. He took back to back pole's in 2009 while making it three straight in 2010 and finally his most current in 2013. This year will mark Sami's 16th career race along the corniche looking for his fourth victory and a small window of hope to take a third title.

Qualifying for fifth round of the championship takes place at 15:30 local (11:30 UTC) and 06:30 EST on the East Coast of North America. The complete three sessions of qualifying can be followed "live" via the worldwide television broadcast by going to the tours official website at www.f1h2o.com.

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