Qatar's Carella and Torrente Qualify for UIM F1 H2O World Championship

Sharjah, (UAE), December 18 (QNA) - The Qatar Teams Alex Carella and Shaun Torrente qualified in second and fifth positions for what promises to be a fascinating showdown for the UIM F1 H2O World Championship title at Fridays 15th Grand Prix of Sharjah on Khaled Lagoon. Outright victory in Friday’s race will give Carella the title, but his team-mate needs to win and hope that pole position winner and series leader Philippe Chiappe does not finish second. Fractions of a second separated the leading six drivers throughout the three qualifying sections and this sets up the prospect of fireworks at the final race of the season. The lead in qualifying swapped all afternoon, but Chiappes flying lap of 44.33sec in the Q3 shoot-out swung the advantage in the Frenchmans favour heading into the race on Friday. Carellas second place was sufficient for the Qatar Team driver to secure the UIM F H2O Pole Position Championship by a single point, but Torrente will start the race from fifth after suffering fuel problems in Q3. "It is going to be very difficult for us now. Philippe was fast out there and this changes our strategy," said Khalid bin Arhama Al-Kuwari, head of formula racing at the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF). "Now the start is so important. Alex will need to try and hunt Philippe down at the first turn and try and get the lead. I am sure that Shaun will also be pushing hard and trying to make up the time. He had fuel feed problems in the Q3 qualifying and was not able to push hard. "On a positive note, the whole team is delighted that Khalid (Al-Kuwari) secured his first win in F-4S and I am sure he will be pushing hard again on Friday. There is little damage to Mohammeds (Al-Obaidly) boat, so he will be okay for the next race." Qatar’s Khalid Abdullah Al-Kuwari and Mohammed All-Obaidly qualified on pole position and in sixth place for the first of the weekends two F-4S Trophy races. Al-Obaidly was sidelined after an accident on the first turn after the rolling start lap, but Al-Kuwari went on to reach the chequered flag in front of all his rivals to claim a maiden F-4S victory and the biggest result of his career. Germanys Mike Szymura claimed the 2014 F-4S Trophy Championship title with one race to spare.(QNA)