Carella needs full points on home waters to win fifth title

Sport360 staff 08:10 06/12/2016
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  • Team Abu Dhabi.

    The three-day penultimate round of the championship commences today in Abu Dhabi, where a five-way battle for the title will heat up.

    The Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, poses a do-or-die situation for Carella and Al Qamzi who need nothing short of a victory to stay in contention for the championship crown.

    Carella lies fourth in the points standings after races in Dubai, Evian, Porto, Harbin and Liuzhou and he trails championship leader and double world champion Philippe Chiappe (CTIC F1 Shenzen China Team) by 25 points.

    The winner of this week’s grand prix receives 20 points while second place gets 15 and third gets 12.

    ”I have been in Abu Dhabi for several weeks getting everything ready and I’m leaving nothing to chance,” said a focused Carella.

    “We have been testing, working on the boats and spending time together to create that team spirit that we will need this weekend. I was able to join Faleh (Al-Mansoori) in an XCAT as well and we won the Abu Dhabi Cup two weeks ago.

    “That was different to F1 in many ways, but it kept me in tune with what is required in a race boat and the balance of the boat was similar to what I can expect this week. Victory is a must. I just have to win this race.”

    Victory team’s Shaun Torrente is Chiappe’s nearest rival as he currently holds the runner-up spot, 13 points behind the Frenchman, while Mad-Croc Baba Racing’s Sami Selio and Team Sweden’s Jonas Andersson are also in contention.

    The championship will conclude with its sixth and final leg in Sharjah next week (December 14-16).

    Rashed Al Qamzi leads the 2016 UIM F4-S Championship by a commanding 36 points from Dutchman Ferdinand Zandbergen and two podium finishes in the pair of F4-S races on Thursday and Friday afternoon could be sufficient for the Emirati to clinch the world title with two races to spare.

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