SAN NAZZARO: Team Abu Dhabi’s Thani Al-Qemzi is still chasing his dream of winning the F1H2O World Championship as he prepares to make his 150th powerboat race start at the Grand Prix of France in Macon this weekend.
The veteran Emirati driver, who has finished championship runner-up twice and third six times, is in buoyant mood after two days of testing in San Nazzaro, Italy, alongside teammate 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 10 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 his 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 teammate.
“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 (Indonesia), 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.
“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 Andersson 23pts
Erik Stark 21
Bartek Marszalek 20
Shaun Torrente 17
Sami Selio 15
Ferdinand Zandbergen 12
Filip Roms 11
Peter Morin 9
Thani Al Qemzi 7
Brent Dillard 6
