Agencies/Doha
Florida-based Steve David knows that he needs to stay out of trouble during this weekend’s Doha-based Oryx Cup UIM World Championship if he is to retain his ABRA Unlimited Hydroplane World High Point Championship title for a second year.
The driver of U-1 Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison has already claimed victory in the Columbia Cup at Tri-Cities in Washington -- round three of the six-race series -- and is the favourite to win the first Unlimited Hydroplane race ever to be staged outside the Americas. He has won the Drivers’ Championship on three occasions -- 2005, 2006 and 2008 -- and is chasing his fourth win in five seasons.
David’s striking boat is owned by the City of Madison in Indiana -- a team that has been running since 1961. This boat was built in 2007 and is fitted with a Lycoming turbine engine capable of revving to 19,000 rpm. The team has taken three race victories under the management of Charlie Grooms and Seattle-based crew chief Mike Hanson, both of whom have amassed five wins apiece in their careers.
Jeff Bernard won the Thunder on the Ohio race in Evansville back in August and trails David by 228 points heading into what promises to be a thrilling Oryx Cup showdown in Doha this weekend. The Washington-based driver races U-5 Formulaboats.com, which is owned by Ted Porter of Decatur, Indiana. The team was founded in 2006 and has taken two race wins. Bernard will run under the management of Michigan’s Mark Hooton and crew chief Tom Anderson in Qatar. Both have scored three wins in their careers.
“One of the main differences between racing in Qatar and back in the United States is the amount of extra salt in the water here in Doha Bay,” said ABRA media spokesman Owen Blauman. “Salt can damage the engines on these boats if it is left untreated and there is a greater risk of engines ingesting salt water in a race situation, where the spray from a huge ‘rooster tail’ hangs in the air and is picked up by a boat running behind.”
Several of the teams have fitted snorkels to the air intake systems to prevent the engines ingesting salt water during the Doha Bay races. Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani, president of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), was on hand at the Corniche yesterday morning to personally welcome the Unlimited Hydroplane family to Qatar for the first time.
“I would like to thank His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Heir Apparent His Highness Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad al-Thani, and His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, Special Adviser to the Emir, for their support and backing for all sports in Qatar, especially marine sports.
The schedule: Today: 1pm-4pm: Unlimited qualifying; 4.15 pm:Podium ceremony for top three qualifiers; 4.30-6.00pm: Pit area open to general public (VIP tours available). |
