NEWS
27/03/2010
Super Fazza Clinches 1-2 Finish In Rio
Rio De Janeiro (BRAZIL): World champions Arif Al Zafeen and Nader Bin Hendi got their 2010 season off to a winning start with a wire-to-wire victory in the first of two races at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio.
Starting in pole position, the Fazza 3 pair dominated race one to win by 45 seconds from team-mates Mohammed Al Marri and Abdullah Al Mehairbi in Fazza 1. Third were Kolbjorn Selmer and Jorn Tandberg in Welmax 90.
Averaging 164.83kmph in stifling conditions, Al Zafeen and Bin Hendi started the 2010 campaign just as they finished the previous season, underlining their status as title favourites in the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship. Hitting the first turn buoy at the front of the field, they were never seriously tested and romped home to another maximum 20 points.
“You don’t win if you don’t put in the hard work,” said throttleman Bin Hendi. ‘If the team does its job then we’ll always have a chance of winning so I am delighted with the way the guys have got the boat set up for the new season.”
For Tandberg and Selmer, the best chance of splitting the Fazza boats was maintaining their second place on the grid from the start. Unfortunately, the Norwegians were caught on the sprint to the first turn by Al Marri and Al Mehairbi and found it impossible to pass for the remainder of the fourteen-lap race.
“Of course we are delighted to be on the podium but we know we have to work harder tomorrow in order to break the ‘black alliance’,” smiled Selmer.
While Bin Hendi and Al Zafeen were clearly pleased at their winning start to the new fourteen-race campaign, Abdullah Al Mehairbi was delighted – and relieved – to have crossed the line as runners-up.
“The course really suits Welmax so it was important we got to the first turn ahead of them,” said the 2008 World Championship runner-up. “The conditions were so hot and it was difficult to stay focused so this is a great result. Can we beat Fazza 3? It will be tough as they are such a great pairing but we are friends as well as team-mates and we are happy to share the Fazza success with them.”
Elsewhere F1 Powerboat World Champion Guido Cappellini claimed fourth place alongside fellow Italian Giampaolo Montavoci in DUEMME Foresti & Suardi, while Abu Dhabi debutant Rashed Al Tayer claimed fifth alongside Nicola Giorgi in Team Abu Dhabi 5.
The first female driver in over a decade of Class 1 racing, Norwegian Marit Stromoy had to settle for sixth place with driver Giorgio Manuzzi in Welmax Alianza with Fabio Magnani and Marco Pennesi the last to finish in Foresti & Suardi Scam.
The action returns to the water for race two of the Brazilian Grand Prix at Marina de Gloria with the Bin Hendi and Al Zafeen holding the early upper hand in a series that will wind its way through Europe and the Middle East before reaching its finale in Dubai in December.
BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX - Race 1
1. Fazza 3 - Bin Hendi/Al Zafeen (UAE) 35m:44.56s
2. Fazza 1 - Al Marri/Al Mehairbi (UAE) 36m:30.01s
3. Welmax 90 - Tandberg/Selmer (Nor) 36m:39.76s
Starting in pole position, the Fazza 3 pair dominated race one to win by 45 seconds from team-mates Mohammed Al Marri and Abdullah Al Mehairbi in Fazza 1. Third were Kolbjorn Selmer and Jorn Tandberg in Welmax 90.
Averaging 164.83kmph in stifling conditions, Al Zafeen and Bin Hendi started the 2010 campaign just as they finished the previous season, underlining their status as title favourites in the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship. Hitting the first turn buoy at the front of the field, they were never seriously tested and romped home to another maximum 20 points.
“You don’t win if you don’t put in the hard work,” said throttleman Bin Hendi. ‘If the team does its job then we’ll always have a chance of winning so I am delighted with the way the guys have got the boat set up for the new season.”
For Tandberg and Selmer, the best chance of splitting the Fazza boats was maintaining their second place on the grid from the start. Unfortunately, the Norwegians were caught on the sprint to the first turn by Al Marri and Al Mehairbi and found it impossible to pass for the remainder of the fourteen-lap race.
“Of course we are delighted to be on the podium but we know we have to work harder tomorrow in order to break the ‘black alliance’,” smiled Selmer.
While Bin Hendi and Al Zafeen were clearly pleased at their winning start to the new fourteen-race campaign, Abdullah Al Mehairbi was delighted – and relieved – to have crossed the line as runners-up.
“The course really suits Welmax so it was important we got to the first turn ahead of them,” said the 2008 World Championship runner-up. “The conditions were so hot and it was difficult to stay focused so this is a great result. Can we beat Fazza 3? It will be tough as they are such a great pairing but we are friends as well as team-mates and we are happy to share the Fazza success with them.”
Elsewhere F1 Powerboat World Champion Guido Cappellini claimed fourth place alongside fellow Italian Giampaolo Montavoci in DUEMME Foresti & Suardi, while Abu Dhabi debutant Rashed Al Tayer claimed fifth alongside Nicola Giorgi in Team Abu Dhabi 5.
The first female driver in over a decade of Class 1 racing, Norwegian Marit Stromoy had to settle for sixth place with driver Giorgio Manuzzi in Welmax Alianza with Fabio Magnani and Marco Pennesi the last to finish in Foresti & Suardi Scam.
The action returns to the water for race two of the Brazilian Grand Prix at Marina de Gloria with the Bin Hendi and Al Zafeen holding the early upper hand in a series that will wind its way through Europe and the Middle East before reaching its finale in Dubai in December.
BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX - Race 1
1. Fazza 3 - Bin Hendi/Al Zafeen (UAE) 35m:44.56s
2. Fazza 1 - Al Marri/Al Mehairbi (UAE) 36m:30.01s
3. Welmax 90 - Tandberg/Selmer (Nor) 36m:39.76s
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