ABU DHABI: Shaun Torrente aims to keep up his winning habit in China at the weekend to get back on track for a fourth UIM F1H2O World Championship title with Team Abu Dhabi.
The defending champion won in China in 2018 and 2019 en route to his first two F1H2O world crowns, and he approaches Sunday’s Grand Prix of Zhengzhou determined to erase memories of his first-round disappointment in Indonesia.
Torrente was first to the finish in the opening Grand Prix of the season, only to be penalized for a jump start, handing a first-career victory to Polish driver Bartek Marszalek.
“Indonesia definitely didn’t finish the way I wanted,” Torrente said. “I won the race on the water, but unfortunately I made a mistake. At least I took a couple of points, so we move forward in China. As usual, I’ll go for the win and try to get back to the top of the table, one lap at a time, one race at a time.
“Of course, it’s a different venue in China this time, and I’m just looking forward to getting out on the water and seeing what we can do. We’re usually quick at new venues, as we were in Indonesia, so I feel we’ll be in good shape there.”
Torrente has high expectations for three-time UIM F2 champion Rashed Al-Qemzi, who takes over in the Abu Dhabi 2 speedboat from his cousin, veteran Emirati driver, Thani Al-Qemzi, who is unavailable for the trip to China.
“Rashed’s integration into the team is not even necessary, because he’s been our spare driver for three or four seasons,” Torrente said. “He’s always been with us, and we’ve raced F2 and endurance together. He’s a really talented, fast driver.
“The main thing for him is to get some experience and to make all the laps. Honestly, if everything goes perfectly, he will have an opportunity to win the race, because he’s that quick. He’s not expected to, but his ability is definitely at that level.”
Al-Qemzi, who won the UIM Endurance Championship with Team Abu Dhabi in 2019 and 2021, made his F1H2O debut in Sharjah in 2016 and scored his first points there a year later. He is a naturally confident competitor, and will soak up all the encouragement and motivation he receives from Torrente and team manager, Guido Cappellini.
“I’m very excited to be racing in F1 again and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got for the team,” he said. “Of course, F1 is where I would really like to be. Shaun helped me when we won the endurance championship together, and he’s a great guy. I can learn a lot from him as a driver who has won the world title three times.
“Guido has told me to test the boat in extra free practice, and then the team can prepare it for me for the next day. The weight will be different for me compared to Thani, so some adjustments will be needed, and I’ll see how it suits my style of driving.”
