INDIA in F1

Tag: UIM World Championship

  • Torrente takes Championship lead winning the Grand Prix of India in dramatic style

    Torrente takes Championship lead winning the Grand Prix of India in dramatic style

    Amaravati (AP, India), 18 Nov 2018: Team Abu Dhabi’s Shaun Torrente capped a perfect weekend in Amaravati with a faultless drive to win the UIM F1H2O Grand Prix of India and move to the top of the world championship standings.

     Emirates Racing’s Marit Stromoy produced by far her best performance of the season to finish in second with Erik Stark making it an Abu Dhabi one-three.

     There was drama almost immediately when CTIC F1 Shenzhen China’s Philippe Chiappe crashed heavily on the start lap at the first turn, ending his title hopes with defending champion Alex Carella’s race ending almost before it began, retiring on the same lap with technical issues.

     It was disappointing afternoon for the local favourite Jonas Andersson, the Team Amaravati driver retiring after running in fourth place for 33 of the 44 lap race.

    Pole-sitter Torrente made the perfect start but would have to do it all again when the yellow flag was shown for Chiappe’s dramatic exit, the incident benefitting Stromoy who had a poor start and dropped several places but with no laps completed the boats reverted to their starting positions.

    Torrente made no mistake at the restart and took off and opened up an early lead, but for the majority of the race was unable to shake off the challenge of a very persistent Stromoy who would not let him get away, but the Abu Dhabi driver was faultless, absorbed the pressure from behind and maintained his relentless pace to complete the 44 laps and win by 2.17s to record his seventh-career victory and leapfrog his two teammates to hit the front in title race. “Marit did a wonderful job. She pushed so hard and I knew she would,” said Torrente. “I made two great starts and it was all about managing the race. For me it’s about winning the championship not just races. The goal is to be in this position after Sharjah. Our home race is next so we hope we can keep it going.”

    Stromoy’s drive to second sandwiched between the Abu Dhabi duo for the full race distance received high praise from both her rivals and was by far her best outing this year, keeping Torrente in her sights and fending off a relentless challenge from Stark. “I tried and pushed as hard as I could till the bitter end but it was a great race for me,” Stromoy said. “I had a bad start and was a bit lucky with the yellow flag but I could see Shaun was controlling things at the front and I also had to keep my eye on Erik.”

    Despite all his efforts and a near coming together with Stromoy, Stark was unable to get passed. “I was a little unlucky with the yellow because for once I made a really good start,” Stark said. “After the restart I got up beside her but she held on and after that I pushed as hard as I could but it was not enough. The podium is great but the points’ after Sharjah is what matters and we have two races to go.”

    Behind the front three it was a race of attrition with eight of the 18 starters failing to go the distance; F1 Atlantic’s Duarte Benavente retiring on lap 1 after the coming together with Chiappe and teammate Grant Trask going out on lap 13, with Thani Al Qemzi seeing his championship lead disappear with his retirement on lap 5, Cedric Deguisne’s race ending on lap 27.

    Andersson was looking strong in fourth before his exit with Peter Morin taking over the slot and running a solitary race to the chequered flag and some consolation for the CTIC China Team, with Francesco Cantando, the winner in India in 2004, picking up his best result of the year bringing his Blaze home in fifth.

    Team Amaravati’s Erik Edin produced one of the drives of the day, moving up from 18th off the pontoon to finish in sixth ahead of Mad Croc BABA Racing’s Filip Roms and Ahmed Al Hameli who was struggling with technical issues.

     It was a very good afternoon for two championship rookies, Simone Schuft and Sutthiphan Sookbuangbon both picking up there first championship points in ninth and tenth.

     With two races to go Shaun Torrente leads the championship standings on 72 points from Stark on 65 and Al Qemzi slipping to third on 54, with Morin now the closes challenger in fourth on 39 points.

     The penultimate round of the season is the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi on the 6-8 December.

     For full classifications:

    https://www.f1h2o.com/results/2018/grand-prix-of-india/f1h2o

     For championship standings:

    https://www.f1h2o.com/standings/2018/f1h2o

  • Anderson qualifies 5th; Shaun takes pole: UIM F1h2o World Championship

    Anderson qualifies 5th; Shaun takes pole: UIM F1h2o World Championship

    Anderson on a flying lap which got him the P5 with one minute to go in Q3. Photo Tony Titus

    Amaravati (AP, India), 17 Nov 2018: Sweden’s Jonas Andersson of Team Amaravati, the Indian team for the F1H2O World Championship was the fifth quickest in the Q3 after just managing to enter the last qualyfying session at the fag end with 6th best time. Torrente Shaun clocked the fastest time in the 2.125km circuit doing the fastest of the two laps in 44.54sec.

    In his 8th season, he got his third pole from 45th start and being third in the championship with 53 points, will be gunning for a victory to take the lead as the Formula 1 H2O goes into the final stages with three more rounds left.

    Anderson of Team Amaravati was 0.68 seconds behind in P5, timing 45.22. Stromoy Merit timed 44.72 to qulify in P2 while Stark Erik did 45 dead for the third place.

    Earlier in the second practice session on Saturday morning. Driving the Powerboat in Yellow and Red Amaravati colours in the #14 livery, Anderson clocked 47.22sec for P5 even as top guns Team Abu Dhabi’s Erik Stark grabbed top spot in the closing stages of an intriguing second practice session with a handful of drivers enjoying a spell at the top of the time sheets.

    Stark’s teammate Shaun Torrente ousted Victory’s Alex Carella from top spot and went quickest with 10 minutes of the 60 remaining but was then eclipsed by Ahmed Al Hameli who looked to have put Victory back on top with a 46.42s lap.

    But with a minute to go Stark produced his best run with a 45.97s lap and was the only driver to go sub 46 seconds.

    Team Amaravati’s Jonas Andersson was again in the mix and on the pace in fifth place, with Marit Stromoy, who topped the session early on, ending the morning in sixth spot.

    SECOND PRACTICE – results (top six):

    1. 35 Erik Stark (swe) – 45.97s
    2. 3 Ahmed Al Hameli (uae) – 46.42s
    3. 6 Shaun Torrente (usa/*uae) – 46.74s
    4. 1 Alex Carella (ita/*uae) – 46.84s
    5. 14 Jonas Andersson (Swe- Team Amaravati) – 47.22s
    6. 50 Marit Stromoy (nor) – 47.29s

    (*denotes international racing super license)

    POS COUNTRY BOAT DRIVER Q1 Q2 Q3
    1 6 Shaun Torrente 0:47.85 0:45.82 0:44.54
    2 50 Marit Stromoy 0:47.63 0:46.38 0:44.72
    3 35 Erik Stark 0:47.50 0:46.04 0:45.00
    4 5 Thani Al Qemzi 0:47.02 0:45.91 0:45.06
    5 14 Jonas Andersson 0:46.81 0:46.58 0:45.22
    6 3 Ahmed Al Hameli 0:48.08 0:46.55 0:45.23
    7 8 Peter Morin 0:47.89 0:47.04
    8 1 Alex Carella 0:47.65 0:47.25
    9 37 Francesco Cantando 0:48.24 0:47.50
    10 7 Philippe Chiappe 0:47.95 0:47.52
    11 10 Duarte Benavente 0:48.56 0:47.91
    12 51 Bartek Marszalek 0:48.09
    13 9 Grant Trask 0:48.82
    14 12 Filip Roms 0:48.98
    15 11 Sami Selio 0:49.37
    16 73 Cédric Deguisne 0:50.84
    17 36 Simone Bianca Schuft 0:54.85
    18 74 Suttiphan Sookbuangbon 0:55.00
    19 15 Erik Edin 0:57.03

    For full classifications:

    https://www.f1h2o.com/results/2018/grand-prix-of-india/f1h2o

  • F1 powerboat racing champinship inaugurated; Team India’s Anderson 2nd fastest in extra FP

    F1 powerboat racing champinship inaugurated; Team India’s Anderson 2nd fastest in extra FP

    Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu poses with Amaravati Team India after inaugurating the event on Friday. An F1inIndia image

    Amaravati (AP, India), 16 Nov 2018:  US driver Shaun Torrente representing Abu Dhabi team was the fastest topping the time-sheets in the Extra Free Practice session that was held after the inauguration in the as the UIM F1H2O Grand Prix of India in Amaravati, started on Friday.

    After a colourful inauguration by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the event began with an extra FP. Free Practice and Qualification will be held on Saturday while the races will be on Sunday. F4 race will also be on Saturday.

    Team Abu Dhabi trio was the best in the opening session and  Torrente ran 16 laps with a best time of 45.64s around the 2.125km 5-pin circuit on the Krishna River waters, I.40s quicker than teammate and championship leader Thani Al Qemzi. “The session went well and backed up the testing that we did earlier this month in Abu Dhabi,” Torrente said. “I didn’t have to run too many laps and the engine is not a 100 percent yet and as it was practice I didn’t want to push too much or take any risks. Now we just have to try to figure out what the weather is going to do over the next couple of days. Today it wasn’t great!”

    Erik Stark who sits between the two in the overall standings was limited to just two laps due to an electrical issue and failed to post a competitive time.

    Team India’s Anderson finishes opening session time sheets in second

    Jonas Andersson gave the enthusiastic home crowd something to cheer posting a 46.25s lap in his Team Amaravati DAC to go second quickest, 0.61s off top spot, with teammate Erik Edin struggling with engine issue and down in 14th. “I took it easy at the beginning and was struggling to find the right setting on the engine but in the end it was good,” he said. “Now I am just going to check everything is okay and decide which engine to use tomorrow.”

    Alex Carella gave Victory Team a much-needed boost of confidence running 32 laps in the new boat and setting the third fastest time of the session with a 46.58s lap, teammate Ahmed Al Hameli four-tenths back in eighth. “Today was really encouraging for us. I have a very good feeling in this new boat which we tested in Dubai and then shipped out here,” said Carella. The set-up was pretty good and I just really felt comfortable in the boat. For me it is the best boat we have run this season.”

    Despite some issues with a power drop off when she went tight into the turns Emirates Racing’s Marit Stromoy was still able to pull off the fifth quickest time with a 47.13s lap and edging teammate Bartek Marszalek by 0.06seconds.

    Peter Morin was the best of the CTIC F1 Shenzhen China duo in seventh with Philippe Chiappe in tenth and ahead of Mad Croc BABA Racing’s Sami Selio who ran both his boats and was relieved to get through a session without breaking anything.

    Today’s session, which marked the return of the UIM F1H2O World Championship to India for the first time in 14 years, was flagged off by the Chief Minister of the State of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naido, who was accompanied by Nicolo di san Germano, President of H2O Racing and Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of the Union Internationale Motonautiqe (UIM), the sport’s World Governing Body and who was recently confirmed as the new head of The Council of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).

    Saturday’s practice session is at 11:15hrs [local] with BRM Official Qualifying starting at 15:30hrs.

  • F1H2O Powerboat racing World Championship returns to India

    F1H2O Powerboat racing World Championship returns to India

    Powerboat World Championship returns to India after 14 years. File photo courtesy F1H2O

    Amaravathi (AP), 13 Nov 2018: Team Abu Dhabi is very much in control of proceedings as the championship heads into the business end of the season, kick-starting the crucial three-race run in to year-end and title honours with the Grand Prix of India, Amaravati on 16-18 November, round 5 of the UIM F1H2O World Championship – the penultimate and final rounds taking place in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in December.

    After 14 years and 99 Grand Prix since the first visit to India and Mumbai in 2004 the championship returns, this time to Amaravati and Vijayawada on the banks of the Krishna River in the State of Andhra Pradesh and time is fast running out for any remaining title hopefuls, other than Abu Dhabi’s imperious trio of Thani Al Qemzi, Erik Stark and Shaun Torrente.

    The Abu Dhabi triumvirate lockout the top three spots in the title race with Al Qemzi perched on top on 54 points with just two points splitting all three teammates and Abu Dhabi a comfortable 42 points clear at the top in the Teams Championship.

    The concern for those in the chasing pack and still in with a shot at the title is that Abu Dhabi has locked out the Grand Prix podium for the last two races; Stark and Torrente each have two poles and two GP wins this season with Al Qemzi picking up three runners-up slots and a fourth. And whilst the inter-team driver vibe is currently very much ‘all for one and one for all’ it may well soon be tested to the limit with all three bidding for a first world crown.

    The CTIC F1 Shenzhen China duo of Philippe Chiappe and Peter Morin are the immediate challengers and best placed to mount a challenge, 20 and 24 points off top spot and if either still harbours any title aspirations the fightback must start in India and a win or at least a podium has to be the target to keep in touch.

    Chiappe and Morin are the only drivers other than the Abu Dhabi trio to make the podium this season, Chiappe in Portimao and both in London and Chiappe, in particular, needs to rekindle all the elements that delivered him three world titles on the bounce if he is going to carry the fight to Abu Dhabi.

    Heading the group of five that currently round out the top ten and split by just six points is Victory Team’s Ahmed Al Hameli who has battled hard for his 15 point tally with two top six slots his best results.

    It has not proved an easy season for the Dubai outfit so far, trialling new boats at the beginning of the year and upgrading with two more at the last Grand Prix but with little reward for all the effort, especially for four-time and defending champion Alex Carella whose season and title defence started well with third in qualifying and fourth in the race, but has since derailed with two crashes and no points to show from the last three Grand Prix and is down in 10th place on nine points.

    Jonas Andersson in seventh place on 14 points heads to India on great form and on the back of his best race weekend of the season after an excellent third in qualifying and fourth in the race in China last time out. The Team Amaravati lead driver is quick and a real fighter and will be optimistic that he can again seriously challenge Abu Dhabi. Keeping him on his toes and a place and a point behind him is teammate Erik Edin who is enjoying a very solid first full term in the championship delivering strong results in qualifying and a career-best fourth place finish in France.

    Emirates Racing’s Marit Stromoy will be itching to get back out on the water and vent her frustrations after power issues in China in both qualifying and the race robbed her of the opportunity to reproduce the form and pace that she showed in practice and move up in the standings. The Norwegian enjoyed a thrilling middle order battle with teammate Bartek Marszalek for the majority of the race before her issues resurfaced and a spin dropped him back to the tenth spot.

    Two-time champion Sami Selio and Filip Roms will be desperate for their fortunes to turn around in India after a season to forget so far, the Mad Croc BABA Racing duo blighted with season-long engines issues and Selio failing to get to the chequered flag last time out and rooted in 11th place with just 7 points. Roms did go the distance but a lack of acceleration and power saw him finish outside the points and he languishes in 17th place and is till to post his first points of the year.

    F1 Atlantic duo Grant Trask and Duarte Benavente will be looking to bounce back after a double DNF in China, with Cedric Deguisne targeting a points’ finish after missing out in China, with rookie teammate Suttiphan Sookbuangbon making just his second start in the championship.

    Both Francesco Cantando and Simone Schuft will have carried out repairs to their boats following a double dose of bad luck in practice in China, Cantando hitting debris out on the circuit and Schuft tipping her boat over, with Cantando heading back to India as the man who won there in 2004.

    The race weekend gets underway with a first practice session on the 2.125km 5-pin circuit on the Krishna River on Friday afternoon, with a second session on Saturday morning and followed by BRM Official Qualifying at 15:30hrs [local]. A final practice session takes place on Sunday morning with the UIM F1H2O Grand Prix of India starting at 16:00hrs [local].

    2018 UIM F1H2O WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS – after round 4:

    1. 5 Thani Al Qemzi (uae) 54pts
    2. 35 Erik Stark (swe/uae*) 53pts
    3. 6 Shaun Torrente (usa/uae*) 52pts
    4. 7 Philippe Chiappe (fra) 34pts
    5. 8 Peter Morin (fra) 30pts
    6. 3 Ahmed Al Hameli (uae) 15pts
    7. 14 Jonas Andersson (swe) 14pts
    8. 15 Erik Edin (swe) 13pts
    9. 50 Marit Stromoy (nor) 11pts
    10. 1 Alex Carella (ita/uae*) 9pts
    11. 11 Sami Selio (fin) 7pts
    12. 9 Grant Trask (aus) 5pts
    13. 10 Duarte Benavente (por) 5pts
    14. 51 Bartek Marszalek (pol) 4pts
    15. 73 Cedric Deguisne (fra) 3pts
    16. 37 Francesco Cantando (ita) 3pts
    17. 12 Filip Roms (fin) 0pts
    18. 36 Simone Schuft (ger) 0pts
    19. 70 Mette Brandt Bjerknaes (nor) 0pts
    20. 74 Suttiphan Sookbuangbon (tha/fra*) 0pts
    21. 35 Rashed Al Qemzi (uae) 0pts