18 / 44
F1H2O
18
n° 4November | 2017
tour and is still in search of his first world title after three times
finishing runner-up in the championship. Nobody has raced more in
Abu Dhabi, this years’ event marking his 21st race start as he heads
the Blaze Performance Team.
Defending three-time world championship winning driver Philippe
Chiappe of France is looking for his second win in four years in Abu
Dhabi. He took the top-step in 2014 on his way to his first title for
the CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team and needs a victory in 2017 to
have any chance of making it four straight titles.
Last years’ victory went to TeamSweden’ Jonas Andersson who had
gone 50 races without a victory until his dominating run. The driver
from Fruvi will be looking this time around for his sixth career win in
his 12th season of racing.
Oddly enough, drivers from the Middle East region haven’t done
particularly well in Abu Dhabi other than Saudi Arabian driver Laith
Pharaon who won back-to-back events in 2002 and 2003.
Surprisingly, no driver from the Emirates has ever won inAbuDhabi,
one of two home Grand Prix on the calendar each season. So you
better believe that Thani Al Qemzi and Rashed Al Qemzi of Team
Abu Dhabi, along with Victory Team’s Ahmed Al Hameli will try and
break the tradition in front of the thousands of race fans that are
expected to line the corniche on the 7-8 December.
Five-time winner
Guido Cappellini
FIVE OF THE PASTWINNERS
WILL BE RACING IN THE GRAND
PRIX IN 2017 INCLUDING THREE
PASTWORLDCHAMPIONS.