Dubai clinch dramatic XCAT Abu Dhabi Grand Prix pole

Sport360 staff 15:33 26/11/2015
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • A stunning backdrop for the competitors.

    The Dubai team of Salem Al Adidi and Eisa Al Ali claimed Abu Dhabi Grand Prix pole with minutes to spare with the fastest lap of 2:27.771 in qualifying at the final round of the UIM XCAT World Series on Thursday.

    Locked in a three-way battle, it looked like T-Bone Station (Giovanni Carpitella and Darren Nicholson) had pole position sewn up after powering ahead of XDubai (Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir bin Hendi), with around 12 minutes to go with a lap of 2:27.804.

    But in a strategic move, the Dubai boat waited until the final five minutes of the session to push for pole.

    – INTERVIEW: Ricciardo reflects on Red Bull’s season
    – Yas Marina: A track record of F1 drama & innovation
    – NEW: Zarooq unveil UAE-made desert Sand Racer

    With the top three boats all within three tenths of one another, Friday’s race is set to be an enthralling affair.

    Throttleman Al Ali gave plenty of credit to his driver Al Adidi.

    “I am so happy – I have a lion in my boat,” said Ali. “Salem did such a good job on the turns. I didn’t slow down for him. I came full throttle and he made the turns. He’s a lion.”

    “We are very happy to be in first place. We are so excited about this very flat water – we love these conditions. It’s fantastic so we knew we had to push and to get this pole to show everybody we are good,” said Al Adidi. 

    “We knew it was very close. The top three were very close but we knew we could improve more and more every time so we waited until five minutes before the chequered flag and I said: ‘Ok Eisa, let’s go! We will beat everybody’.”

    This result is a far cry from the Dubai boat’s disastrous fourth round of the XCAT World Series just a few months ago in Australia where the duo managed to flip their boat twice during the race weekend.

    The conditions there were vastly different, however, compared to the silky smooth water in the UAE capital this week.

    With Dubai first, T-Bone Station second and XDubai third, the battle to that first buoy will likely be a battle of note.

    Starting in fourth position will be the Abu Dhabi team of Rashed Al Tayer and Faleh Al Mansoori who are currently one point off the overall Series lead.

    Occupying the final spot in the top gate will be the Lady Spain team of Jay Price and Shaun Torrente. 

    Recommended