Team AD’s Qemzi aims for home victory in season-ending event

The Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi brings the 2019 UIM F2 World Championship to a conclusion next weekend at the start of an intriguing month for international powerboat racing which will see three world titles decided in the UAE.

Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi, who has already secured the F2 world crown for the second time in three years after dominating the 2019 series, has the opportunity to round off a superb season with a treasured victory on home waters.

This will be the first time that Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) has hosted a round of the UIM F2 Championship, and Qemzi has the chance of another place in the record books as the first ever F2 Grand Prix winner in the UAE capital.

Among those aiming to block his patch to victory are four drivers fighting it out for runners-up spot in the championship, Portugal’s Duarte Benavente, Sweden’s Ola Pettersson, Dutchman Ferdinand Zandbergen and Germany’s Stefan Hagin, winner of this year’s Grand Prix of Norway.

They are in a powerful 19-boat line-up assembling at ADIMSC, home base for Team Abu Dhabi who have also secured this year’s World Endurance Championships.

The title haul could reach five during the month. Shaun Torrente and Faleh Al Mansoori will be battling to retain their UIM XCAT World Championship in Dubai on De.103-14, while a week later, Torrente aims to land a second successive F1H2O drivers crown in Sharjah, and at the same time secure another team championship with Thani Al Qemzi.

“It’s going to be a thrilling month to round of the world championship powerboat racing season, with so much at stake,” said Salem Al Remeithi, General Manager of ADIMSC.

“Our first priority is to provide a perfect platform for the final round of the UIM F2 World Championship, which we are delighted to be hosting for the first time.

“We look forward to a classic battle for victory in the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi between the best drivers in the series.”