England, still 261 runs behind their target, will expect vice-captain Pope and batting mainstay Root to put their chase back on track when play resumes tomorrow
sports17 hours ago
Team Abu Dhabi's Thani Al Qamzi is still chasing his dream to win the F1H2O World Championship as he prepares to make his 150th race start at the Grand Prix of France in Macon next weekend.
The veteran Emirati driver, who has finished championship runner-up twice and third six times, is in a buoyant mood after two days of testing in San Nazarro, Italy, alongside team-mate and defending world champion, Shaun Torrente.
“We’ve been preparing in Italy on a course that is similar to the one in Macon, with the same dimensions and turns, so I’m feeling good,” said Al Qemzi, who made his F1H2O debut in 2000
“While I am trying to score my first individual drivers’ championship, I am also working with Shaun to defend our world team title.”
With ten career Grand Prix victories and 43 podium finishes to his credit, Al Qemzi currently lies ninth in this year’s championship, 16 points adrift of leader Jonas Andersson.
He returns to action in France after missing round two in China, taking over in Abu Dhabi 2 from cousin Rashed Al Qemzi, the three-time UIM F2 champion, who resumes as the reserve driver.
Torrente, lying fourth in the standings, six points away from Andersson, has set his sights on an even better return than last year in Macon, where he took victory ahead of his team-mate.
“Macon was a great race for the team last year,” said the three-time world champion. “We finished first and second, but I just missed pole position, so I’d like to get pole this year.
“We’ve done some good testing, so we’re all set now. The team have done a great job preparing the engines over the last year. We're not changing much on the boat, but we’re trying to adjust the propeller and engines for the new regulations. That's what our focus has been here in Italy.
“So far this season has been mixed for me. For the first two rounds we run really well, but unfortunately we have just made some mistakes. I gave away a win in Toba, and then in China we gave away pole which ended up costing us the win.
“After everything is said and done, I’m just six points off the lead, so I’m feeling pretty good. With a good weekend in Macon, I can be leading the championship.”
On Al Qemzi’s prospects of a first world driver’s title, Torrente said: “I always see a chance for Thani to win the championship. He’s in the same equipment that I'm in, so he has just as good a chance as I do.
ALSO READ
“He just needs to remain focused, and keep putting up the good fight. This championship is so jumbled up right now, and he can still challenge for the title.”
UIM F1H2O World Championship leading positions
Jonas Andersson23pts
Erik Stark21
Bartek Marszalek20
Shaun Torrente17
Sami Selio15
Ferdinand Zandbergen12
Filip Roms11
Peter Morin9
Thani Al Qemzi7
Brent Dillard6
sports@khaleejtimes.com
England, still 261 runs behind their target, will expect vice-captain Pope and batting mainstay Root to put their chase back on track when play resumes tomorrow
sports17 hours ago
New Zealand were 180-3 at stumps with Rachin Ravindra on 22 and Daryl Mitchell on 14 when bad light stopped play in an extended session
sports17 hours ago
Shival Bawa’s unbeaten 63 steers Giants to glory as they defeated ILT20 Pearls by 6 wickets
sports20 hours ago
The series is the first international cricket fixtures in Bangladesh since a student-led revolution toppled the autocratic premier
sports1 day ago
Cricket Australia confirms Perth as the venue for the first Test of the 2025-26 series
sports1 day ago
'What sets this event apart is the unique opportunity for players to meet and compete with people they might never have met before' - Tournament Director Brandon de Souza
sports1 day ago
“This is a big tournament for me and I will do my best and see where I finish,” said the teenager from The Els Club
sports1 day ago
Sunday's US Grand Prix kicks off a North-South America triple header, with Mexico and Brazil following on successive weekends
sports1 day ago