Abu Dhabi: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashid Al Qamzi was in blistering form in Sunday afternoon’s F2 French Grand Prix on the Saone river in Macon.
The Emirati started the race from fourth and produced one of the finest performances of his career to finish the 60-lap race in second position and claim a first podium finish in the UIM F2 World Championship.
Teammate Rashid Al Tayer, who was making his first F2 appearance of the season, qualified in 13th position but was forced out of contention on lap 11 with technical issues.
The two 35 and 36 boats operating out of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) faced fierce competition from some of Europe’s finest racers. Sweden’s Erik Edin and Pierre Lundin were the early pacesetters, until Edin fell by the wayside after an accident and forced a yellow flag, thus handing Lundin the lead that he held to the finish, despite two further yellow flag incidents.
Al Qamzi shadowed the Swede throughout the race and managed to fend off a fierce challenge from both Konstantin Ustinov and Matthew Palfreyman to claim second in the middle stages, with the Russian falling out of contention near the finish, Palfreyman also clipping a turn buoy and their demise gifting third place to Edgaras Riabko.
Both Team Abu Dhabi drivers had also impressed with the second and sixth top speeds in Saturday’s Speed Record.
“This is a superb result for Rashid Al Qamzi and goes to prove the rapid progress he has made on the international stage in a very short space of time,” said a delighted Salem Al Rumaithi, the assistant general manager of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC). “This result is a major boost for everyone at the ADIMSC and proves that the decision to take part in the UIM F2 Championship was a good one.”
The Team Abu Dhabi drivers eventually began the race from fourth and 13th positions, with Edin on pole and maintaining his lead from the start. The Scandinavian trio of Edin, Lundin and Munthe-Kaas continued to lead through five laps, Al Qamzi maintained fourth and Al Tayer found himself in 15th.
Result
1. Pierre Lundin (SWE) Lundin F1 Racing: 55 laps
2. Rashid Al Qamzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: @5.47sec
3. Edgaras Riabko (LIT) F2 Lithuania: @7.59sec
4. Johan Ostberberg (SWE) Team AJO: @12.94sec
5. Tobias Munthe-Kaas (NOR) Stromoy Racing F2: @15.06sec
6. Uvis Slakteris (LAT) Riga Powerboat Team: L1
