Abu Dhabi duo aim to boost double world title – News

Torrente, Al Qemzi eager for back-to-back Grand Prix races

Thani Al Qemzi and Abu Dhabi manager Guido Cappellini. (photo provided)

The 2022 UIM F1H2O World Championship weekend enters a crucial stage in Italy, with Abu Dhabi’s Shaun Torrente and Thani Al Qemzi looking to tighten their grip on the title race in the Grand Prix double-header.

It’s just over three months since the team made a perfect start to the 2022 season, when Torrent won the French Grand Prix from teammate Al Qemzi at the Saône circuit in Macon.

Two-time world champion Torrente can’t wait to continue his fight for a third F1H2O drivers’ title and is happy to have Al Qemzi as his closest challenger and partner in his pursuit of a fifth constructors’ title.

“It seems to be a different season than when we were in Macon, but hopefully we can carry the momentum forward,” he said ahead of Saturday’s Grand Prix in Emilia Romagna in the San Nazaro region, 24 hours later. race italian.

“The main focus of our preparations has always been how the boat handles. Then the speed and qualifying, making sure the engine kit is right, the improvements to the boat are good and we get to know each other again very well.

“The main thing that makes us hard to beat is that Sani and myself complement each other so well, the whole team. Everyone knows their job and does their job well.”

Adding that to his streak of world titles in 2018 and 2019 would be “incredible,” Torrent said. However, he will be the first to congratulate Al Qemzi on his first individual F1H2O title if the Emiratis pass him in Italy or the final round in Sharjah in December.

The two Abu Dhabi drivers were determined to make up for last season’s final-round disappointment in Portugal when Sweden’s Jonas Anderson beat Al Qemzi by one point, while Torrent was just two points short of third. .

Anderson is aiming to boost his hopes of a successful title defence after finishing fifth in France, while Sharjah’s Samiselio is hoping for a major change in fortunes following a major setback in Macon.

The Finnish driver took the lead from pole position in the opening round, but a mechanical problem put him out of the race.

Serio also has to shake off the frustration of being disqualified from last Sunday’s UIM F2 World Championship tiebreaker in Portugal, where Abu Dhabi’s Mansoor Al Mansoori was named world champion .