Abu Dhabi: Rashid Al Qamzi and Mohammad Al Muhairbi will represent Team Abu Dhabi at the next round of the UIM F1 Championship at the city of Zarasai, in north eastern Lithuania, this weekend (August 26-28).
Al Qamzi and Al Muhairbi will line up with Team Abu Dhabi’s 35 and 36 boats to take part in the racing. The fifth round of the prestigious F2 world series comes just three weeks after the team was in action at Tonsberg in Norway, where Al Qamzi claimed ninth position.
The team operating out of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) have been enjoying a hectic few months of racing action at various European venues. They have already tasted success in UIM F1 H20, F2 and Endurance races in France, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Norway and Poland, before embarking upon the impending Lithuanian challenge for the first time.
“It’s been a very busy and successful season so far and everyone involved with Team Abu Dhabi is looking forward to racing at this new venue in northern Lithuania,” said Salem Al Rumaithi, assistant general manager of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC). “We know from the races in Campione d’Italia and Tonsberg that the competition is very stiff, but Rashid and Mohammad acclimatised well at those races and I am sure that they will use that experience to their advantage this weekend.”
Team Abu Dhabi are sponsored by Etihad Airways and run under the patronage of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, adviser to the Head of State and chairman of the board of directors of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC).
Last year, Sweden’s Pierre Lundin secured the UIM F2 European title in Zarasai in a race that was fought out over four heats, with Rupert Temper winning the first and Lundin securing success in the next three.
Lundin currently leads this year’s Drivers’ Championship by seven points from fellow countryman Erik Edin. England’s Matthew Palfreyman is a distant third and Italy’s Alberto Comparato lies in fourth. Al Qamzi holds 15th position, courtesy of his sixth place in Campione d’Italia and ninth in Tonsberg, although the Emirati missed the other two races this year in Peurunka and Tvedestrand.
