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The three-time F2 world champion was eliminated by 0.320 seconds as Monaco’s Giacomo Sacchi reached a late climax in a six-boat shootout
Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi in action. — photos provided
Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi narrowly missed out on pole for tomorrow’s Portuguese Grand Prix in dramatic days for the penultimate round of the 2022 UIM F2 World Championship.
The three-time F2 world champion appeared to be in the fastest qualifying race, but Monaco’s Giacomo Sacchi was knocked out by 0.320 seconds. Giacomo Sacchi won the six-boat shootout in the final climax.
It’s been a tough day for Al Qemzi’s teammate, world champion leader Mansoor Al Mansoori, whose qualifying challenge was interrupted by an engine problem, with the grand prix starting tomorrow afternoon near the back of the field.
The consolation for Al Mansoori was that his closest challenger in the title race, German driver Stefan Hagin, three points behind him, also suffered technical problems on the first of two back-to-back Grand Prix weekends in Portugal. forced to retire.
Al Qemzi cannot retain his world title unless Al Mansoori and his two closest challengers, Hagin and Sami Seliö of the Sharjah Team, don’t finish.
However, the Emiratis are determined to end the season with a victory at Ribaduro and then perform again next weekend at Vila Velha de Ródão, as he did last year for a third world F2 title.
He underlined that sentiment in today’s postponed Douro free practice, setting the fastest time ahead of Sacchi and Selio, with Norwegian Tobias Munthe-Kaas, home favourites Duarte Benavente and Al Mansoori rounding out the top six name.
While Al Qemzi later finished the first of three qualifying sessions in third fastest time, mechanical problems forced Al Mansoori to pit early before returning to the 1,765m track to ease into the next stage.
After the start of the second qualifying stage was delayed by a gust of wind, Al Qemzi set the second fastest time behind Sacchi, but engine problems brought Al Mansoori to a halt.
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