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Carella tops; Abu Dhabi finish second

Ahmed Al Hameli and Thani Al Qamzi of Team Abu Dhabi finished in silver spot and 6th overall in Saturday afternoon’s Grand Prix of Tatarstan, round two of the 2012 UIM F1 H20 World Championship, on Kazan’s Nizhny Kaban Lake.

The race was yellow-flagged on three occasions to remove stricken boats from the course and Al-Hameli had two opportunities to snatch the lead from eventual race winner, Alex Carella of the Qatar Team. The Team Abu Dhabi driver had started third on the grid and moved up to second on lap two when pole winner Shaun Torrente blew his DAC’s engine and retired.

Al Hameli was unable to overtake Carella, despite the yellow flag delays, but retains an eight-point lead in the UIM F1 H20 World Championship after two rounds. Al Qamzi finished sixth and scored his first points of the season.

“I chose the wrong propeller in qualifying on Friday and I was mad at myself for making that mistake,” said Al Hameli. Al Mehairbi recorded the fourth quickest time during the morning’s free practice session.

The Emirati ran for 15 laps in a session that was again won by Britain’s Matthew Palfreyman.

Forss continued to fend off the Palfreyman challenge and the leading duo pulled clear of Munthe Kaas and Al Mehairbi, but Palfreyman found a way through on lap 15 and began to edge away from Forss. Al Mehairbi maintained fourth place to the chequered flag to collect more valuable experience and vital championship points, as Palfreyman clinched his second victory of the weekend.

Forss maintained his lead through lap one, but Al Mehairbi slipped behind Thomas Munthe-Kaas into fourth place and all the drivers held station for the next 10 laps.

Al Mehairbi qualified in a fine third behind Sweden’s Jesper Forss and England’s Matthew Palfreyman for the second of the weekend’s F-4S races for the Eurofin Trophy.