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F1H2O
Turn back the clock to 2016 and both venues served up two very
memorable and significant events;MadCrocBABARacing’s Sami
Selio completed the pole and race win-double in Harbin – his
first GP victory since 2013 – Victory Team’s [formerly Emirates
Racing] Ahmed Al Hameli then did the double in Liuzhou – his
first win since 2012.
Selio’s win in Harbin fanned the flames of the 2016 title race
and put him in contention, this year he heads back to Harbin
with a slender one point margin sitting at the top of the driver’s
championship standings for the first time since the GP of Brazil
in 2013, following two second placed finishes in Portugal and in
France.
But it is not just Selio who will be relishing returning to Harbin,
so too will his Mac Croc teammate Filip Roms, who last year ran
his team leader ever so close in BRM Qualifying, missing out on
his first pole by just tenths of a second and then looked to be on
course tomaking it aMad Croc one-two when his race ended in a
dramatic coming together with Alex Carella. He will be desperate
to get his season properly underway after a spate of niggling
issues, finish his first race of 2017 and post his first points.
Alex Carella and TeamAbuDhabi head toChina looking to banish
the memories of a year ago when Carella’s title challenge began
to derail, his over-zealous passing attempt in Harbin ending his
race and costing him the championship lead and was followed by
a retirement in Liuzhou. Thani Al Qemzi fared little better, his CV
for the two races reading disqualified and sixth.
But the mighty Abu Dhabi outfit is looking in very good shape.
Carella is in imperious form and enjoying his racing with a points
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