JEDDAH, 19 October 2007 — Colin Jelf, current Formula 2000 world champion, won the third round of the U.I.M. F2 World Cup Series in grand style in North Obhur yesterday.
Arif Al Zafeen from the UAE (Team Duai Duty Free) finished second and was followed by the young Frenchman Jean Baptist Thomas (Team Normandis.)
Englishman Jelf (Jelf Powerboat Racing Team) started the day lying third in this year’s championships one point behind his brother Owen in second spot with 23 points and the current leader, Italian Alex Carella Owen with 25.
Jelf seared of the starting line and rapidly established his leading position leading the race from start to finish, lapping the tail enders with insouciant ease. Tight round the turns and with the boat in perfect balance, Jelf drove a faultless race to a well-deserved victory.
Billy Nairn, team engineer, said after the race that the boat had been perfectly balanced. “That plus the fact that we weighed in at in the parc fermee during post race scrutineering 5 kilos under the limit gave Colin a perfect drive,” he told Arab News after the race.
Jelf set the leading qualifying times during the qualifying sessions yesterday by margins of well under one second. There was less than three seconds between the first ten qualifiers in the 16 boat race.
Brother Owen Jelf who finished a provisional 6th was disappointed with his performance. Although he drove faultlessly clocking times that closely matched his brother’s, he said that a mechanical hitch caused his drop down the field. “The boat ran beautifully,” he said, “It just failed to start first time on the button at the green light. That split second delay lost it.” He said resignedly that though rare, “in life, this stuff happens.”
This was the first time that Jeddah has seen either professional powerboat racing or held a world championship leg. Spectators spread on stand along the length of the race circuit had a perfect view.
Modris Kanciems, the UIM F 2000 World Cup Series promoter, said that the event had run smoothly and had succeeded in bringing the sport to the Kingdom in a big way. “We plan to be back next year,” he said. “If all goes well, and we are invited, the prospects are good.”
The teams fly out early morning today and containers, packed with the travelling workshops and the all important powerboats, start their journey to the 4th round to be held in Malaysia.
