ABU DHABI // With a little bit of luck, Ahmad al Hameli is likely to finish in the top three of this season's UIM Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship. And Scott Gillman, al Hameli's Team Abu Dhabi manager has backed Ahmad al Hameli to do so. "Ahmad has done admirably well this year and has a great opportunity to get a couple of good results in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah," the three-time world champion said.
"He has always been there with the best and his improvement has been remarkable. He has really taken off and will be a force to reckon in the coming year with his senior teammate Thani al Qamzi, and between them, one of them will win the driver's title." Al Qamzi has occupied the third place in the world championship for the last two years but engine failures have kept him out of the points. Gillman said it was bad luck that had kept the UAE ace out of the points in this year's championship.
The time trials and shoot-out for pole will take place today while the race proper is set at 3pm tomorrow. The American Jay Price driving - under the Team Qatar banner - tops the championship points with 85 and needs just a sixth-placed finish from the last two races to win the driver's title. The UIM F1 promoter Nicola Di San Germano said the final two races will be webcast live on www.f1boat.com.
@Email:apassela@thenational.ae