By Sports Reporter/Doha
Defending Oryx Cup champion Jimmy Shane and 6 Oberto/Beef Jerky topped the unofficial qualifying times when nine of the fastest boats on the planet took to the waters
of Doha Bay at the start of the Oryx Cup UIM World Championship, the final round of the 2014 H1 Unlimited Championship, yesterday afternoon.
The qualifying limit was reduced from an average speed of 130mph to 120mph because of the adverse water conditions, but Shane was the class of the field to record a
best average speed of 143.024 mph.
J Michael Kelly, his rival for the 2014 National High Points title, carded the second fastest qualifying speed of 142.803 mph late in the session.
Cal Phipps fell foul of a fuel violation in 7 Graham Trucking II and was forced to go again out late in the afternoon, while 96 Spirit of Qatar’s Jean Theoret broke
the bolts to the wing and the rear strut on his last run but set an impressive pace on his return to the sport after a five-year absence and clocked a best lap of
134.010mph.
Engine issues meant that Jesse Robertson and the 12 Miss DiJulio hydroplane were forced to miss the day’s racing.
Theoret hadn’t raced an H1 hydroplane since finishing fourth in the 2009 Oryx Cup final at the helm of 37 Schumacher Racing/Miss Peters & May. But the Canadian settled
back into the 96 Spirit of Qatar hot seat like a duck to water and posted an impressive opening practice average speed of 130.894 mph before improving still further as
the session progressed.
“I was a little nervous when I got back into the boat this morning,” admitted Theoret. “It has been five years. I had a good feeling from the start, but the water was
rough out there in the testing.
“The objective for today was just to qualify, take no risks, and get back into everything. We needed to do 15 laps and 10 over 130mph (reduced to 120mph) and got six
out of the way early. That second corner, the wind was very rough. It’s important to be cautious. The goal for the weekend is to take no risks, get to the final and
reach the finish.”
Today, drivers will be able to carry out Unlimited testing for up to two hours before the first two pairs of heats take place on Doha Bay from 13:00hrs. The pit area
will be open to the general public on Doha Corniche from 16:30hrs.
Oryx Cup qualifying times* (top five)
1. 6 Oberto/Beef Jerky - Jimmy Shane 143.024mph
2. 1 Graham Trucking - J. Michael Kelly 142.803mph
3. 9 Red Dot/Les Schwab Tires - Jon Zimmerman 137.158mph
4. 7 Graham Trucking II - Cal Phipps 134.363mph
5. 96 Spirit of Qatar - Jean Theoret 134.010mph
*Times exclude penalties and fuel violations
Today’s schedule
09:00-11:00 - Unlimited testing
11:15 - Drivers’ meeting
13:00 - Heat 1A
13:30 - Heat 1B
14:45 - Heat 2A
15:15 - Heat 2B
15:35 - Draw for third heats
16:30-18:30 - Pit area open to public and VIP tours
Jean Theoret takes to the water for the first time in 96 Spirit of Qatar at the Oryx Cup in Doha Bay. PICTURE: Chris Denslow
