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- Abu Dhabi duo praise race legend Guido Cappellini for team’s winning culture as F2 championship reaches finish line
VILA VELHA DE RODAO: Newly-crowned four-time champion Rashed Al-Qemzi and teammate Mansoor Al-Mansoori want to give Team Abu Dhabi a grand finale to the 2023 UIM F2 World Championship in Portugal at the weekend.
After clinching his latest title with a second-place finish at Peso da Regua, Al-Qemzi has set his sights on a third race victory of the season in Sunday’s second leg of the Grand Prix of Portugal at Vila Velha de Rodao on Sunday.
A podium finish last weekend revived Al-Mansoori’s fortunes of a top three finish after his earlier disappointments, and he will be looking for a repeat performance as the championship reaches its climax on the Tagus river circuit.
Both drivers have acknowledged the winning culture instilled in Team Abu Dhabi by powerboat racing legend Guido Cappellini. The 10-time F1H2O champion has captured 17 world titles since becoming team manager eight years ago.
“Guido makes everyone work hard together to get the best results for the team, and he is always there to take care of any problems we have as drivers,” said Al-Qemzi, winner of the first two rounds in Lithuania and Italy.
“I’m proud to be champion again, and I would like to win on Sunday to thank Guido and the rest of the team. But it will be difficult again because competition is very tough this season.”
Third overall in last year’s championship, Al-Mansoori might have been in the same position again but for an accident toward the end of this season’s opening round in Lithuania, when he looked set for a top-three finish.
“Things like that happen in racing, but in this team we always support each other and prepare for the next race,” he said. “When your team manager has won 10 world titles, everyone follows the example he sets for every race.”
The traditional end-of-season venue of Vila Velha de Rodao is where Al-Qemzi powered his way to a second Grand Prix victory within eight days two years ago to secure a third F2 world title.
The Emirati can expect another fierce challenge from last weekend’s Grand Prix winner in Portugal, Edgaras Riabko. Estonia’s Stefan Arand and Monaco’s Giacomo Sacchi will be racing against Lithuania’s Riabko for the runner-up spot.