Team Abu Dhabi’s Alex Carella salvaged fourth position from a disappointing 16th Grand Prix of Portugal on the Arade river in Portimao, on Sunday.
Team-mates Thani and Rashed Al-Qemzi suffered engine issues and were unable to challenge for honours at the opening round of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship, won by the French three-time champion Philippe Chiappe.
Pole position winner Shaun Torrente lost his lead early on and retired on lap 10, with Finland’s double World Champion Sami Selio taking second and Duarte Benavente clinched third at his home race.
The Al-Qemzis did not start the race due to their issues, while UAE’s Victory Team suffered the same fate with Ahmed Al Hameli not making the race start and American team-mate Shaun Torrente retiring after ten laps.
After losing the whole of Saturday because of gale force winds, H2O racing officials had to cram an entire weekend of racing into one day’s timetable on the Arade River.
BRM qualifying was moved to the morning and the 16th Grand Prix of Portugal slotted into a revised schedule that was again weather dependent.
