Del Pin teams up with Stark for Victory Team

Del Pin has also been showing a lot of promise after racing in the lower F4 and F3. - Supplied photo

Multiple World Champions Victory Team have injected a fresh dimension in its push for glory while signing up two new drivers for the F1H2O World Championships.
Last week, the Board of Directors of Victory Team met under the chairmanship of Huraiz bin Huraiz and announced a few minor changes in the set-up that will remain in effect till the end of this season.
One of the most important decisions was the formal signing of Sweden's Erik Stark and young Italian David Del Pin to compete under the Victory Team banner at the ongoing F1H2O World Championships. The two new drivers will replace Italy's Alex Carella and Emirati Ahmed Al Hameli in the two Victory boats for the remaining three rounds of the F1 Championships. The next assignment for the F1 boats will be in Xiamen at the Grand Prix of China from Oct. 18-20, followed by the Grand Prix of India (Nov. 12-14) and the season finale at the Grand Prix of Sharjah from Dec. 18-21.
Heading into the second half of the season, there is a keen tussle for the drivers' world crown with Team Abu Dhabi's defending world champion Shaun Torrente and Team Amaravati's Jonas Andersson with one win each. The duo are separated by a mere three points with the American having 35 points followed by Andersson in second with 32, while Team Abu Dhabi's second driver Thani Al Qamzi is third overall with 27 points.
The 28-year-old Stark is no novice on the watersport scene having started his career when only 12 years old in the Swedish S-250 class, after which he went on to win the F2 World title on four occasions. Racing for Maverick Team, Stark eased into the F1 category while making his debut in 2012. His first podium place came in China in 2014 and followed this up with another two podiums in 2015.
"With former four-time F1 World Champion Alex Carella not getting off to the right sort of start this season, the Victory Team hierarchy decided it was time for a re-jig so that the team can be competitive on the world stage at such an important competition," bin Huraiz said at the Victory Team headquarters.
"It was important for the team to take a re-look mid-way through the season. As a team we are known to be leaders and the board of directors was unanimous in ushering in the necessary changes so that Victory Team once again reclaims its place on the international scene," he added.
Del Pin, who turns 28 in the first week of September, has also been showing a lot of promise after racing in the lower F4 and F3 classes under the Team Tuttamarano banner. Since the past few seasons, the Italian born in the Udinese region has raced in the F2 category.