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Qatar Team resumes its defence of the UIM F1 H20 World Championship crown at next Monday’s Grand Prix of China on Liuzhou’s Liu river. |
It is nearly seven months since Qatar’s defending world champion Alex Carella defied gusting winds on Doha Bay to begin the defence of his individual world crown in winning style at the Grand Prix of Qatar.
It was a tale of ups and downs for the Qatar Team on that occasion: Carella’s teammate Shaun Torrente had led that race until an electrical fire put paid to his chances and he heads to next Monday’s race in China trailing Carella by 20 points with four races to go in Liuzhou, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
Frenchman Philippe Chiappe lies five points behind Carella after round one and Portugal’s Duarte Benavente is third, eight points adrift.
“There’s been a big gap in the calendar and that was unfortunate, but we have been busy in that period and carried out some very useful testing in Italy at the end of July and the start of August,” said Khalid bin Arhama al-Kuwari, head of formula racing at the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), which runs under the presidency of HE Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani.
Alex Carella would be chasing a third straight win in Liuzhou.
“Brendan Power has made some engine modifications for us and we are raring to go in China. It’s a short season this year with just five races but we are ready to win again. Alex won in Liuzhou in 2012 and 2013 and I am sure he will be looking to make it a hat-trick of wins.
“Saying that, because of the shorter calendar, it is also important that Alex and Shaun finish all the races for the team. We have a great record in China. I suppose you could say we love Liuzhou. It is our course and our win.”
Khalid Abdullah al-Kuwari and Mohamed al-Obaidly will represent Qatar Team in the UIM F-4S races for the Eurofin Trophy. Strong winds meant that one of the two F-4S races was cancelled in Qatar and teams arrive in Liuzhou with just one race completed this season.
Team Sweden’s Jesper Forss has a five-point advantage over Germany’s Mike Szymura. Khalid Abdullah al-Kuwari lies fourth in the Drivers’ standings after his fourth-placed finish on Doha Bay. Qatar teammate Mohamed al-Obaidly is sixth.
A hectic two days of competition begins on Sunday, October 5, with free practice and time trials for both the F-4S and F1 racers. The first of the F-4S races for the Eurofin Trophy starts at 13.30hrs (08.30hrs Doha time) on Sunday and precedes F1 qualifying from 15.00hrs (10.00hrs Doha time).
Racing reaches a conclusion on Monday, October 6. Further practice and F-4S time trials on Monday morning will be followed by the second of the F-4S races at 11.40hrs (06.40hrs Doha time) and the all-important 2014 Grand Prix of China at 15.10hrs (10.10hrs Doha time).
