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Abu Dhabi, UAE: Shaun Torrente will aim to maintain his winning streak in China at the weekend in order to get back on track with the Abu Dhabi team in contention for a fourth UIM F1H2O World Championship title.
The defending champion, who won his first two F1H2O world titles in China in 2018 and 2019, approaches Sunday’s Zhengzhou Grand Prix determined to erase the memory of his first-round disappointment in Indonesia.
Torrente took the lead at the season’s opening Grand Prix, only to be penalized for an early start, ceding his first career victory to Polish driver Bartek Marszalek.
“Indonesia certainly didn’t finish the way I wanted it to,” Torrent said. “I won the race on the water, but unfortunately I made a mistake. At least I had a few points, so we moved on in China. As always, I will try to win and try to get back to the top of the points table, one lap at a time , one game at a time.
“Of course it’s a different location in China this time around, I’m just looking forward to getting in the water and seeing what we can do. We’re usually quick in new venues, like we were in Indonesia, so I think we’ll hold up well there. “
Torrente has high hopes for three-time UIM F2 champion Rashed Al Qemzi, who in Abu Dhabi 2 succeeds his cousin, veteran Emirati driver Thani Al Qemzi, who was unable to make the trip to China.
“It wasn’t even necessary for Rashed to fit into the team because he’d been a backup driver for three or four seasons,” Torrente said. “He’s been with us, we’ve done F2 and endurance racing together. He’s a very talented, fast driver.
“The most important thing for him is to gain some experience and do all the laps. Honestly, if everything goes well, he will have a chance to win the race because he is so fast. It is not expected that he will, but his ability is definitely that level.”
Al Kemzi. He won the UIM Endurance Championship with the Abu Dhabi team in 2019 and 2021, and made his F1H2O debut in Sharjah in 2016, where he scored his first points a year later. He is a naturally confident competitor and will absorb all the encouragement and motivation he has received from Torrent and team manager Guido Capellini.
“I’m very happy to be racing in F1 again and I will give everything for the team,” he said. “Of course, F1 is where I really want to be. Sean helped me when we won the enduro championship together, he’s a great guy. As a three-time world champion, I can learn from him Learned a lot.
“Guido let me test the boat in extra free practice and then the team can prepare me for the next day. My weight will be different compared to Thani so some adjustments will be needed and I will see See if it suits my driving style.”
UIM F1H2O World Championship – Leading Positions:
Bartek Marszalek, Stromoy Racing 20 points
Sami Selio, Sharjah 15
Erik Stark, Victory Team 12
Peter Morin, China CTIC Team 9
Thani Al Qamzi, Abu Dhabi 7
Brent Dillard, China CTIC Team 5
Filip Roms, Mad Croc Gillman Racing 4
Jonas Anderson, Sweden 3
Shaun Torrente, Abu Dhabi 2
Ahmad Al Fahim, Victory Team 1
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