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While Cappellini’s five victories in 17 starts in Abu

Dhabi are more than anyone else in the history of

the race.

No one has had more recent success in Abu Dhabi than

Italian Alex Carella as the three-time World Champion

driving for the home standing Team Abu Dhabi.

Speaking of the Californian Scott Gillman, he is one of three American

drivers who have won in Abu Dhabi. The first time was in his rookie season

when he won his first World Championship in 1997 and again in 2005.

Jay Price from New Orleans, Louisiana won in 2008 cementing his world

title and did so again in 2009 sharing his excitement with the Italian

Cappellini who also won at the second Grand Prix event of that year

cementing his final title along with his 62nd and final victory of his stellar

career.

While Cappellini’s five victories in 17 starts in Abu Dhabi are more than

anyone else in the history of the race, other notable performances came

from Saudi Arabian driver Laith Pharaon. The ex-offshore racer took back

to wins in 2002 and again in 2003.

Currently, as we look at today’s active drivers that will be racing in the

2016 event there is a lot of history and drama as well in the mix.

Take 2007.

Sami Selio of Finlandwas trailingGuidoCappellini by 85 to 64with just two

races to be run. It was going to be a “must win” situation for both Emirates

races that year for Selio to have any hope with just 40 points to be earned.

Selio got the job done when he had two straight perfect weekends taking

pole and winning both races to upset the multi-world champion winning

the title by just four slim points after the Grand Prix event in Sharjah.

Selio, repeated the feat three years later, coming from behind and taking

the title away from the American Jay Price winning from pole in Abu Dhabi

and taking second in Sharjah a week later for the second of his two titles.

This year, Selio sits third in the championship with 47 points after three

straight podiums in his last three races including a victory in Harbin, China

back in early September.

He will need some luck again this year, trailing points leader Philippe

Chiappe of France by 20 points, but as the saying goes, “he’s been on this

doorstep before” and knows what must be done to secure a third title with

hopefully his fourth win in Abu Dhabi as well.

No one has had more recent success in Abu Dhabi than Italian Alex

Carella as the three-time World Champion driving for the home standing

Team Abu Dhabi. Carella has tasted victory in three of the last five

years, including last seasons’ win from pole position for the Abu Dhabi

International Marine Sports Club’s first victory in over a decade on home

waters.

The 31-year-old driver is trying to shake a two race “slump” where he

crashed out in Harbin, China in a fight for second place in the race and a

mechanical problem a month later in Liuzhou and dropping from leading

the championship to sitting nowdown in fourth, 25 points back of Chiappe.

Carella is hoping that he can return to the magic he had when he won in

2011, 2012 and 2015 to have any legitimate shot at a title in 2016.

Carella’s old teammate, Shaun Torrente of Florida, who has had a top-

three in the title race the last three years in a row, is still chasing his first

world title and sits just 13 points back courtesy of three straight podium

thirds along with a pair of fourth place finishes.

8

n° 4December | 2016