Team Abu Dhabi made to play the waiting game

Thani Al Qamzi of Team Abu Dhabi in Kiev on Friday

Strong winds and heavy swells made staging the original qualifying session impossible and the F-4S race was cancelled after Rashed Al Qamzi had qualified in seventh position for the intended 25-lap race.

“It is a bit disappointing that I have not been more competitive at this race event in the past,” said Al Qamzi. “I guess it happens to every racing driver, some circuits seem to work out better than others. But, this time, I feel we have the confidence to push for a victory this year. It’s great to have Ahmed back. My old fishing partner is feeling a lot better and we are going to push hard to get both Team Abu Dhabi boats on the podium on Saturday.”

Al Qamzi and Al Hameli had been fourth and ninth in the morning’s free practice in a session that was won by the Finnish championship leader Sami Selio with a quickest lap of 47.96sec.

Rashed Al Qamzi qualified seventh for the first of the two 20-minute UIM F-4S races behind pole winner Mike Szimura, Niklas Friberg, debutant Nikita Lijcs, Khalid Al Kuwari, Eirik Danielsson and Jan-Andre Landsnes. But officials decided to cancel the race.

“We will take each race as it comes this season and analyse our performances with our coaching staff to look at the positives and negatives of our performances,” said Al Qamzi, who only ran for six laps in the morning’s free practice session that was won by Mike Szimura in a time of 41.48sec.

Further free practice is permitted for the F1 and F-4S entrants on Saturday morning and the second F-4S race starts in the morning. Later the 2013 Grand Prix of Ukraine fires into life and there will be a series of exciting match races for the President’s Cup to round off the weekend on Sunday morning. Racing will be filmed live on the Abu Dhabi Sports Channel.