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lex Carella holds the whip hand in the title race as the
2017 UIM F1H2O World Championship reaches the
business end of the season with the traditional end of
year showdown in the United Arab Emirates along the
Corniche in Abu Dhabi and on the Khalid Lagoon in
Sharjah in December.
Abu Dhabi is the longest serving venue in the sport’s 34 year four decade run and hosts
the championship for the 24th time and celebrates its 25th Grand prix, providing the
curtain raiser before the tour moves north to Sharjah for the 18th time as it stages the
year end finale for the 14th time.
It has been a compelling season that has seen three different pole sitters, Shaun
Torrente in Portimao, Alex Carella in Evian and Liuzhou and Erik Stark in Harbin and
three different race winners, Chiappe, Carella and Stark.
The title race has swung one way, then the other; Chiappe led after winning the season
opener in Portugal leading home Sam Selio and Duarte Benavente. Carella grabbed the
pole and race double in France but it was Selio who took over top spot in the standings
with second place ahead of Shaun Torrente, Chiappe losing ground after failing to finish.
From Europe the tour headed to the Far East for its mid-term campaign in the People’s
Republic of China and the pendulum swung again; Stark’s brilliant pole and race win in
Harbin catapulted him right into contention with Carella now on top after a measured
drive to fourth behind Thani Al Qemzi and Ahmed Al Hameli. This time it was Selio who
faltered, crashing out in qualifying and failing to go the race distance.
In Liuzhou Carella took control of his title destiny, going quickest in qualifying and then
driving himself to near exhaustion to take the win ahead of Stark and Chiappe to extend
his points advantage over both, with Selio all but conceding his title challenge was over
after a second crash in qualifying and again failing to post points.
The scenario for the climax to the year is simple; two races to go 40 points maximum on
offer. Mathematically seven drivers are still in it but the percentages are stacked heavily
against the majority of them. It looks to be a three-way duel between Carella, Stark and
Chiappe.
Carella is in command on 58 points, a 16 point advantage over Stark and further three
over Chiappe and one outcome in Abu Dhabi will seal the deal. If Carella wins, the title
race is over with one race to go and he is champion for the fourth time. To keep the
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n° 4November | 2017