The 2014 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series season gets under way on Thursday with official practice at off the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) with a record 15 teams vying for the top honours.
The 10-round series will travel to locations in the Middle East, Asia and Europe with the Grand Final to be held in Dubai in December.
Defending world champions Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi will be looking to carry on their excellent form from last year into the new season, but the Fazza pair can expect some stiff competition.
The January 23-25 season opener sees the French team making its debut in the series while all of the usual suspects, including Victory Team, Skydive Dubai and Dubai Duty Free, return to try and deny Fazza a second successive world title.
Francois Pinelli from Corsica and Saul Bubacco from Italy will race under the French flag this weekend.
“It will be already a great victory for us just to participate in and finish the races,” said team manager Giampaolo Maschietto.
Pinelli added: “For the first race, we will only participate and after that we’ll see.”
This will be the first time Pinelli and Bubacco will race together.
“Usually I race with Michel Karsenti but he couldn’t come to this race,” said Pinelli.
Bubacco has been racing since 2004 in the Offshore3000 Italian Championship while Pinelli’s first racing experience was in 1984.
Asked what they’re expecting from their participation in the race in Dubai, Maschietto said: “Competition, adrenaline, improvement of the boat’s performance and cooperation between two very experienced drivers from completely different backgrounds and marine educations.”
Racing gets under way on Thursday, with the first practice at 14:30.
The EMAAR pole position is at 09:45 on Friday while the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run will be at 15:00 that same day.
The Dubai Grand Prix will start at 15:30 on Saturday. There will be plenty of activities for the whole family, with a dedicated kids zone and Flyboard and Skydive Dubai exhibitions in between the racing.
Entrance is free for the public.
Schedule
Thursday
14:30-16:00 Official Practice
Friday
09:45-11:15 EMAAR Pole Position
14:40 Skydive Dubai & Flyboard Exhibition
15:00-16:00 Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run
Saturday
11:00 Flyboard Exhibition
11:30-12:30 Official Practice
15:00 Skydive Dubai & Flyboard Exhibition
15.30 Dubai Grand Prix
Calendar
Venue
1. Dubai – January 23-25
2. Fujairah – February 12-14
3. TBA – April 11-13
4. Napoli (Italy) – June 6-8
5. Lugano (Switzerland) – June 20-22
6. Stresa (Italy) – July 11-13
7. Baku (Azerbaijan) – August 29-31
8. Ningbo (China) – October 24-26
9. Hining Dao (China) – November 7-9
Final – Dubai – December 11-13
