SHARJAH // Team Abu Dhabi's Ahmed al Hameli won the Grand Prix of Sharjah on Khalid Lagoon yesterday, and Finland's Sami Selio captured the F1 H2O UIM World Championship with a second-place finish.
Al Hameli started in second position but passed Alex Carella of Italy on the first lap and was never headed.
"It is a great feeling to finish the season with a win," said al Hameli, who also secured the 2010 Fast Lap Slam Trophy for the driver who scores the most points for setting the fastest lap times.
"This result is for everyone who supports and backs Team Abu Dhabi and has made this season possible."
Much of the attention yesterday was on Selio and Jay Price of Team Qatar, who were battling for the season championship.
The two drivers held third and fourth for long periods, but Carella slowed near the finish to enable his teammate, Selio, to pass. Price could have won the title by finishing second, but he was unable to find a way through and Selio claimed the championship by two points. It was the first title won by a Finnish driver since 2007.
Carella finished third, which also gave him third place in the season standings.
Team Abu Dhabi's Thani al Qamzi finished sixth in the race, and took fourth in the final drivers standings.
The final F-4S race of the season was won by Oskar Samuelsson of Sweden, who finished 10 seconds in front of Finland's Filip Roms.
Samuelsson also won the season championship comfortably over second-place Roms and Germany's Stefan Hagin in third.
Majed al Mansoori of Team Abu Dhabi placed sixth in the F-4S race, and the Emirati driver finished eighth in the final point standings. He shared racing responsibilities with Rashid al Tayer during the season.
