Qatar’s Villwock claims APBA Gold Cup win

Our Correspondent/Madison (USA)

Dave Villwock on way to victory in the APBA Gold Cup on the Detriot River on Sunday

U-1 Spirit of Qatar’s Dave Villwock claimed his second successive victory in a round of the 2012 Air National Guard H1 Hydroplane Series by winning the APBA Gold Cup on the Detroit River on Sunday. The most successful driver in the history of hydroplane racing clinched a 67th career win– his second in two weekends - by staying ahead of U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto in a thrilling final held in demanding weather conditions.The Washington State driver, who runs an Ellstrom Racing hydroplane in the H1 Unlimited series with the backing of Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani and the Qatar Marine Sports Federation(QMSF), duly extended his advantage in the National High Points standings to 465 points, after adding a clean sweep of heat victories to his fastest time in qualifying.Villwock continued his superb run of form after the victory in Madison last weekend by setting the pace in the qualifying session with an average speed of 162.904mph to collect the 100 extra points. Steve David was second with 161.789mph and Jimmy Shane was third.The U-1 Spirit of Qatar driver was drawn with David, Jon Zimmerman and J W Myers in Heat 1A and he prevailed to secure another haul of maximum points, with Shane winning Heat 1B and Greg Hopp taking 1C after Mike Webster was involved in a spectacular crash in U-22 Great Scott!. Villwock got the better of J. Michael Kelly and Cal Phipps to continue his superb form in Heat 2C.The QMSF-backed driver was again drawn with David in Heat 3B, with Myers, Scott Liddycoat and Hopp joining the action. Shane won 3A but Villwock was penalised 50 points in Heat 3B, despite setting the fastest average speed of 155.264 mph. David, the Oh Boy! Oberto driver, secured maximum points in heat 4A, but Villwock redressed the balance in windy conditions with victory in his delayed fourth heat – 4B. Villwock was drawn with Shane, David, Zimmerman, Kelly and Evans for the final and the U-1 Spirit of Qatar driver managed to stay clear of David after a tense few minutes of racing toreach the chequered flag and claim his 67th career victory.