Team Abu Dhabi 4's Shaun, Faleh grab Race 1 honours in Hangzhou Grand Prix

Shaun Torrente and Faleh Al Mansoori of Team Abu Dhabi 4 held on to claim victory in Race 1.

Team Abu Dhabi 4's Shaun Torrente and Faleh Al Mansoori overtook the Dubai Police crew of Nadir bin Hendi and Arif Saif Al Zafeen to hit the front at the start of the Hangzhou Grand Prix as they held on to seal a convincing victory and storm into contention for the UIM XCAT World Championship title.
With the bit between their teeth after the performance in Shanghai last weekend, the team running out of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) duly tied with their Emirati rivals in the title race heading into the second of the Hangzhou races on Sunday.
The 222 Offshore crew of Italy's Giovanni Carpitella and Australia's Darren Nicholson delivered a useful performance to finish in second position, while Team Australia's Blue Roo crew of crew of Pål-Virik Nilsen and Jan Trygve Braaten were third.
Team Abu Dhabi 5's Rashed Al Tayer and Majed Al Mansoori maintained their championship challenge with fourth place and Dubai Police came home in sixth after seeing a massive series lead evaporate in the third of six Chinese XCAT races in three successive weekends.
Shaun said: "Abu Dhabi gives us the best boat and this is a fantastic result for us. Now we are tied for the lead in the championship after this race result. Now we have a big chance to win the championship."
Team Abu Dhabi 4 and 5 lined up in second and fifth positions for the start of the opening 17-lap, 60.75Nm race in gloomy and calm conditions but it was disappointing news for Swecat Racing, who were sidelined before the start after gear case issues before the start.
The format was similar to the previous week with boats tackling one start lap, 14 normal race laps and two compulsory long laps.
Team Abu Dhabi 4 made a good start and applied the pressure on Dubai Police from the outset. Torrente and Faleh Al Mansoori managed to hit the front and were followed through the opening turns by 222 Offshore and the Blue Roo, as Dubai Police slipped to fourth ahead of Team Abu Dhabi 5.
Team Abu Dhabi 4 continued to edge away from their rivals as 222 Offshore and the Dubai Police vied for second and third places and long lap strategies began to come into play with Team Abu Dhabi 5 down in seventh place.
Al Tayer and Al Mansoori climbed to sixth soon afterwards as Team Abu Dhabi 4 led from 222 Offshore, Dubai Police, the Blue Roo and HPI.
Over the subsequent couple of laps there were minor changes to the running order and Team Abu Dhabi 4 continued to lead from 222 Offshore, although the Blue Roo passed Dubai Police to snatch third and Dubai Police then slipped behind HPI and Team Abu Dhabi 5 and into sixth. New Star incurred a penalty lap and slipped to ninth.
Team Abu Dhabi 4 held on to claim the win from 222 Offshore and the Blue Roo, but sixth for Dubai Police dented their title challenge.
Race two gets underway on Sunday at 11 am UAE time.