Sharjah 24 – WAM: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi secured his third UIM F2 world championship title Sunday with an emphatic victory in the Grand Prix of Portugal.
Starting from pole position, the brilliant Emirati driver completely dominated the final round of the series at Vila Velha de Ródão, winning by the commanding margin of 8.686 seconds from the host country’s defending world champion, Duarte Benavente.
It was Al Qemzi’s fourth successive Grand Prix win in Portugal and his second taste of world title glory this season following July’s endurance championship success in Polamd.
Italian powerboat racing legend Guido Cappellini has now landed 13 world titles since taking charge as Team Abu Dhabi manager in February 2015.
That meant victory today would guarantee another F2 crown for the 2017 and 2019 champion, and Al Qemzi reinforced his prospects with a second successive pole position yesterday while Riabko qualified down in 11th place, effectively ending his challenge.
From the start on the 1,577m Tagus river course today, Al Qemzi looked in a class of his own, powering his way into an immediate lead and at one stage building a huge advantage of 13 seconds over Benavente before relaxing his pace towards the end.
The Portuguese driver finished runner up in the championship, just ahead of Riabko who was placed eighth on the day.
Ten-times former F1H2O champion Cappellini, who celebrated with Al Qemzi at the finish, has had a major influence on the former Nations Cup and F4-S world champion, and the rest of the team’s Emirati drivers.
Three more world powerboat racing titles could yet find their way to Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club before the current season ends.
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