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ollowing its debut onMarina Bay in Singapore
in 2011 and outings in Qatar, Khor Fakkan-
Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, the sixth year of the
UIM H2O Nations Cup saw the series head
to the Peoples Republic of China for the first
time and to the country’s largest artificial
expanse of water Dishui Lake for the BUND
Holding Group Grand Prix of Shanghai.
Fifteen drivers from eight countries lined up
in one of the strongest, talented and most
diverse line-ups seen, with a raft of previous
winners, series newcomers and one or two
legends of powerboating all vying for top
honours.
The defending champions Russia fielded two seasoned
campaignerswhohadboth lifted the trophy andwouldultimately
prove too strong for their challengers; Andrei Panyushkin who
claimed pole and a win in race 2 to guide them to victory in 2015
and Roman Vandshev, also a proven race winner, who took the
title with Belarus in 2014.
Looking to try to regain their title was the series most successful
teamand three time winners, the UAE, and once again rolling out
their young rising star Rashed Al Qamzi who was unbeaten in
all four races when they won in 2013 and Rashed Al Tayer who
won with Majed Al Mansoori in 2012, Ahmed Al Hameli and
Mansoori winning the debut event in Singapore.
The diversity came in the shape of two young Nations Cup
rookies from Australia, Corey Davoll and Brock Cohen, and the
not so young rookies from the USA, Scott Gillman and Jay Price,
who would be relying on their international racing pedigree and
five collective UIM F1H2O world titles to carry them through.
Xiong Ziwei and Ni Haojun carried the hopes of China, with
Roberto Lo piano the sole Italy driver. Germany was back with an
all new line up of Jorn Lassig and Dietmar Kaiser, with the Kadri
brothers, Mohammed and Alffian back representing Malaysia.
In qualifying Russia, the USA and Australia slugged it out in a
thrilling final tenminute session, with Russia’s Roman Vandyshev
setting the fastest time to grab pole position for the first of two
20 minute sprint races.
In the tightest qualifying session in the Nations Cup’s previous
six outings just three-one-hundredths separated the top three,
Vandyshev posting the fastest time of 43.69 around the 1800
metre four-pin circuit, with American Jay Price taking second
ahead of Australian Corey Davoll.
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