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In the four decade history of the UIM F1H2OWorld Championship
that dates back to 1981, there have been 190 different drivers from
36 various nations fighting for 31 years to be crowned F1H2OWorld
Champion.
Of those 190 men and women, only 13 have earned the honor of World
Championship status.
The venues that they have raced have been played out on five different
continents and one of the most demanding circuits, with the most
beautiful and awe inspiring backdrop, is on the West Side of Doha Bay
in lovely downtown Doha the capital city of Qatar.
Now one, if not the richest per capita cities in the world, Doha has
become a powerhouse in the sport of F1H2O racing.
Ever since the first boat touched the waters along the Corniche on the
Gulf back in 2005, the drivers and teams have realized this racing event
would be no picnic or walk in the park. The personality of Doha Bay and
its waters can be tricky. In an instant it can catch you off guard in a big
way and ruin your day.
That scenario was played out in full view of thousands back in 2008
when a pair of World Champions Sami Selio of Finland and Jay Price of
the USA blew their boats over in spectacular fashion in their qualifying
runs for pole position. Price would eventually finished second and Selio
fourth.
Of the ten previous years that the Grand Prix has played out in Doha,
there have been 13 races and nine different winners. Of those winners,
drivers of the Qatar Team had done remarkably well.
American Jay Price stopped the success of the opposing team drivers
in Doha, mainly drivers such as Italian Guido Cappellini, who won four
of the first six events, by taking his teams’ first win on home waters in
2010.
Price repeated the success a year later in his final season with the Qatar
Team. Oddly enough, another American who replaced him, Florida
driver Shaun Torrente picked up the mantle of success winning both in
2013 and again in 2014 during the seasons second event in Doha at the
Middle East Grand Prix.
Not to be outdone, Torrente’s teammate from Italy Alex Carella
captured his first victory for the Qatar Team on home waters at the
start of the 2014 campaign last March.
The young driver from Piacenza who was the defending three-time
World Champion won only after his teammate failed to finish while in
the lead with just six laps remaining in what the Qatar Team was hoping
to be their second 1-2 at home.
DOHA –
A JEWEL
IN F1H20
RACING’S
CROWN…ON
AND OFF THE
WATER!
F1H2O
10
n° 1 March | 2015