UIM Power Boat World Championship in Cernobbio Lake Como Italy

ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, RACE 1 – Results 1. 3 Victory - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / M Al Marri (UAE) - 00.20.13,36 2. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - R Al Tayer (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) + 00.26,89 3. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) + 00.37,55 4. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) + 00.57,49 5. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (MON) / G Montavoci (ITA) + 00.59,88 6. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) + 01.03,00 7. 91 Zabo Isiklar - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) + 01.41,00 8. 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - G M Gabbiani (ITA) / L Nicolini (ITA) - dns

Sunday, 23 September, CERNOBBIO (Italy): Spirit of Qatar’s Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini produced a simply stunning performance in this afternoon’s thriller on Lake Como to win race 2 of the Italian Grand Prix.

With Victory pushing hard to catch their teammates, Spirit of Qatar 96 were unable to match their pace but a race podium to add to their pole position win on Friday completed a good weekend for Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis, with Curtis satisfied that they had done all they could from where they started. “I don’t think we could have done much more from sixth place. We ran a long set-up so we were pretty fast and we made a reasonable start. But we got hosed down a couple of times in the fight with Victory and Fendi and lost a little power. But we are satisfied with a podium.”

Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Tayer and Majed Al Mansoori made it a UAE one-two finishing ahead of Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini in Spirit of Qatar 95 to complete a podium lock-out for the Middle East teams. The Championship leaders’ led from the start and were clear of pole-sitters Spirit of Qatar 96 when the red flag was shown and the race immediately stopped when FA.RO ACCIAI turned over at the first turn. Thankfully both crew members emerged unhurt through the escape hatch in the upturned hull and were taken back to the pits by the rescue team. “It all happened in a split second” said driver Gian Maria Gabbiani. “We were going well and the next thing we know the boat suddenly flipped and we are not sure why. It’s a big pity for us because the team has worked so hard for this race on home waters.”

ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, RACE 2 – Results 1. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) 00.30.36,71 2. 3 Victory - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / M Al Marri (UAE) + 00.03,08 3. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) + 00.18,69 4. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - R Al Tayer (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) + 00.34,85 5. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) + 00.50,49 6. 91 Zabo Isiklar - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) + 01.05,00 7. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (MON) / G Montavoci (ITA) - dnf 8. 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - G M Gabbiani (ITA) / L Nicolini (ITA) - dns