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.
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n° 4December | 2016