[ad_1]
Mansoor Al Mansoori said Abu Dhabi manager Guido Cappellini taught him how to deal with pressure.
bay today, our reporter
Abu Dhabi’s Mansoor Al Mansoori says he’s ready for the pressure as he battles for the 2022 UIM F2 World Championship title in a tight finale of the season in Portugal over the next two weekends.
His first F2 Grand Prix victory in Lithuania last month gave the Emirati driver a three-point lead over Germany’s Stefan Hagin heading into Sunday’s penultimate round at Ribaduro.
With the final Grand Prix at Vila Velha de Rodao 270km away a week later, Mansoori is determined to follow teammate and three-time world champion Rashed Al Qemzi to the F2 title.
“I’m not surprised by the lead because from the start of the season my goal was to put myself in a good position,” he said.
“Playing alongside Rashid gave me a lot of extra confidence and it helped me get the title in my first victory in Lithuania.”
Mansoori paid tribute to Italian jet ski legend Guido Cappellini, who has won 14 world championship titles for the UAE capital since taking over as team manager for Abu Dhabi in February 2015.
“We are all very grateful to Guido for the success the team has had since he took charge,” he said. “He built a great team spirit and used his experience to bring us to the top.
“The most important thing I’ve learned from him is focus, staying calm at all times. His advice on how to deal with the pressure from the boats behind was very important before the last round.”
“It’s not easy to stay on top for 45 laps. But it was a great experience and now I hope to finish strong again on Sunday to take me to the final round.”
Back-to-back victories at the same two Portuguese venues earned Rashed a third F2 world title 12 months ago, and he can still finish on the F2 overall podium.
“I’m hoping for a strong finish to the season,” he said. “With 40 points to win, I can still finish in a good place in the standings.
“I like the conditions and the atmosphere here and always enjoy playing in Portugal, so it feels good to be back there and I want to win again. But I also want to help my team-mates as much as I can.”
Rashid added: “I’m delighted he’s leading the championship. Before the final round
Lithuania I told him not to think about the other drivers and just focus on himself and he did a fantastic job. “
While his two closest title challengers are Hagin and Sharjah’s Sami Selio, both face new competition in Portugal from two boats from Australian brothers Brock and Damon Cohen.
The boats conduct free practice in the waters of Ribadouro on Saturday at 11.15am local time, before three stages of qualifying from pole position at 3pm.On Sunday at 3:45 p.m., the Grand Prix of Bio-Olympics kicks off.
[ad_2]
Source link