NEWS
05/08/2010
Fazza 3 Aiming To Maintain 100% Record In Sweden
UDDEVALLA (Sweden): Defending world champions
Nader Bin Hendi and Arif Al Zafeen will put their 100% winning streak on the
line this weekend as they chase a hat-trick of season-win-doubles in Uddevalla
at the Class 1 Swedish Grand Prix.
Fresh from two wins in both Brazil and
Norway, the Fazza 3 crew seem unbeatable but Bin Hendi is well aware that this
weekend’s two races – the first staged in this small town in the west of Sweden
– is yet another test of a team that continues to rewrite the racing record books.
“Of course things have gone very well for us so far this season but race wins are not achieved without total effort and commitment both in and out of the boat,” said the world’s number one throttleman. “If we let up in our preparations for even one day, we know there are teams out there who will be more than happy to take advantage.”
While there is no change in the professional
attitude of the world champions, there is plenty of movement elsewhere with new
teams and drivers coming to the fore for a race that will take place in the
heartland of Bohuslan, one of Sweden’s most popular summer destinations.
Fazza 1, the boat currently holding second in
the championship behind Fazza 3, has now been re-branded Skydive Dubai 1 and
will see regular driver Abdullah Al Mehairbi join forces with Talib El Sayed,
while the boat that ran in the previous round in Norway as Spirit of Dubai will
run for the rest of the season as Abu Dhabi Team 5.
With two podium finishes in Norway, there is
no doubting the quality of the Victory Team-built boat and Abu Dhabi Team will
expect at least a top three finish for their UAE/Italian pairing of Rashed Al
Tayer and throttleman Giovanni Carpitella.
For Talib El Sayed, it is a welcome return to the Class 1 scene and the 43
year-old throttleman is in good company alongside the reigning world champions
in Fazza 3 as well as two-time world champion Mohammed Al Marri who has handed
his seat to El Sayed for the Swedish races.
El Sayed made his Class 1 debut alongside long-time friend Nadir Bin Hendi at the Scandinavian Grand Prix in 2007, following a full season as
Victory Team’s reserve driver.
He started his career participating in the wooden powerboat ranks in 1993, while two years later he earned himself the role as a Victory Team reserve driver in the Class II Championship. In 2005 and 2006, he also raced on the Class 3 circuit.
The Swedish Grand Prix weekend kicks-off with
first practice tomorrow (Friday) followed by the Class 1 Aspen Speed Run. Second
practice on Saturday is immediately followed by qualifying in
the Edox Pole Position and Race 1, 53.87Nm - 13 laps, including one long lap.
A final practice session on Sunday morning is
followed in the afternoon by Race 2, 66.45Nm - 16 laps, including two long
laps.
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