VIDEO: Torrente retains World C’ship title as Andersson wins Sharjah GP

Amir Naqvi, Sports Editor

Living up to its billing of producing thrilling finishes as the host of the season-ending race, the iconic Khalid Lagoon once again witnessed another dramatic climax as Sweden’s Jonas Andersson won the Sharjah Grand Prix, only to have a maiden UIM F1H2O World Championship title snatched from his hands on the final lap by defending champion Shaun Torrente.

It is the first time in the championship’s 36-year-old history that the world title has been decided on countback with Torrente winning his second successive championship with a better second place tally at the 20th edition of the championship in Sharjah.

Andersson looked set to claim his first F1H2O glory as he dominated the race till the 44th of 45 laps after starting from pole.

With just a gap of five points and Torrente starting the races from fifth place, a win for the Swede and third place finish for his Team Abu Dhabi rival would have fulfilled Andersson’s dream of scripting his name on the trophy.

In a sudden twist, three-times world champion Philippe Chiappe, who was in the middle, a damage to the trim on the last lap, helped Torrente move up into second and follow Andersson across the finishing line to retain his title. The two title rivals finishing the season tied on 79 points apiece with Torrente winning on countback.

There were jubilant scenes at the Khalid Lagoon as Team Abu Dhabi hailed not only a second successive driver’s title for Torrente, who plunged into the water to celebrate, but also another world team championship.

“I was pushing like crazy, but we have been through so much with that motor this week, and the team have kept it together,” said Torrente.

“We tried to keep it quiet in the paddock that we had a hurt engine which we damaged in qualifying but the team did everything to make sure it got me round,” he added.

 “It was only an hour before the race that we decided not to change it, roll the dice and go with it. It held out but the last five laps it was way down but got me to the end. It was an amazing situation really dramatic. The three of us were the class of the field and just went away from everybody else. I don’t know what happened to Philippe but Jonas did a great job did everything he could and had to. Today we had that bit of luck that we all need sometimes,” said Torrente.

Hailding Andersson the Team Abu Dhabi driver said: “It was an amazing situation really dramatic. The three of us were the class of the field and just went away from everybody else. I don’t know what happened to Philippe (Chiappe) but Jonas did a great job did everything he could and had to. Today we had that bit of luck that we all need sometimes.”

Poland’s Bartek Marszalek finished third ahead of Team Abu Dhabi’s Thani Al Qemzi who was placed fourth overall in the championship as well as the race.

Alex Carella’s was the most dramatic exit on the list of retirees with 10 of the 18 starters failing to go the distance, Carella’s crash on lap seven bringing out the first yellow flag the second waved on lap 14 for the rescue team to replace a damaged turn buoy.

Despite her retirement on lap 23 after running in the top six, Emirates Racing’s Marit Stromoy held on with 37 points to earn her highest overall championship finish, ending the season on the prestigious year-end podium in third.

Meanwhile, F1 Atlantic’s Harvey Smith cruised to his second win of the weekend to win the F4-S Sharjah Grand Prix and seal second place in the overall championship standings.

The 24-lap race was yellow flagged three times, the first came out almost immediately when Sharjah Team’s Manes Al Marzooqi went over on the run to the first turn, the second for Victory Team’s Ali Langawi who got caught out on lap 14 and the final yellow as a result of Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Remeithi going over on lap 24.

Mohammed Al Mehairbi led from pole for two laps before being passed by Smith who then cantered off into the distance, despite the yellow flags, to take the win under a caution flag, Mehairbi finishing in fifth to finish on the overall championship podium in third.

Second place went to Max Stilz who sealed the 2019 F4-S Drivers and Teams Championship for Blaze Performance in race 1 on Thursday to take the Grand Prix runners up slot, with Victory Team’s Ahmed Al Fahim in third and fourth place going to Mathilda.