Sharjah24: Under the patronage of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council, the emirate plays host to the finals of the ‘Sharjah World Championship Week’ (SWCW) in the 22nd edition of the ‘UIM F1H2O World Championship’ - the flagship international series of single-seater inshore circuit powerboat racing.

Slated for December 8-10, the finals will take place in Sharjah’s Khalid Lagoon, and is being organised by the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). SCTDA will name the world champions of the 2023 season in both driver and team categories.

21 drivers representing 10 teams will feature in the season’s high-octane finale ‘Sharjah World Championship Week’. In a bid to give teams and drivers more time on the water and to increase the race exposure for sponsors, spectators and a worldwide television audience alike, an exciting new race format will be rolled out.

Describing it as a significant achievement for the UAE in international marine sport, HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCDTA, underscored that playing host to this high-calibre international championship, testifies to Sharjah’s growing global stature, particularly in sport. 

Affirming Sharjah’s complete preparedness to host the championship finals, Midfa added: “SCDTA is keen on organising major international events and world championships in Sharjah to continue building on its appeal as a global destination for sports and sports tourism, and subsequently have these functions contribute significantly more to our economy’s sustainable development.” 

Teams from the UAE participating in the UIM F1H2O World Championship include the Sharjah team, for Sharjah International Marine Sports Club, comprising Dutchman Ferdinand Zandbergen, ranked 2, and Finn Sami Selio, ranked 9. The Abu Dhabi team, for Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club, comprises Shaun Torrente, ranked 7, Thani Al Qamzi, ranked 5, and Rashed Al Qemzi, ranked 14. Additionally, the Victory team of  Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), will be participating with both drivers, Erik Stark ranked 3, and Ahmed Al Fahim, ranked 16.

Highly competitive, intensely challenging, risky and entertaining, the F1H2O World Championship is the ultimate adrenaline rush and regarded as one of the most spectacular and exciting sports in the world. In the finals, competitors will not only be racing to win for their teams, but also earn points to boost their individual world championship tallies by 20 points for 1st place, 15 for 2nd, and 12 for 3rd, respectively. 

All eyes will be on last year’s championship winners, particularly on the reigning champion - Sweden’s Jonas Andersson who won the 21st edition and occupies top ranking this year as well in the lead up to the finale, with 63 points, followed by Finnish Sami Selio and Poland’s Bartek Marszalek, who grabbed 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, in 2022.