SAN NAZZARO, ITALY: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al-Qemzi is determined to regain the lead in the 2024 UIM F2 World Championship with a win at this weekend’s Grand Prix of Italy.
The four-time F2 world champion is aiming for a repeat of his victory at San Nazzaro last year. He wants to wipe out the four-point advantage held by Lithuania’s Edgaras Riabko following his third place on home territory in the previous round less than a fortnight ago.
Victory in Klaipeda put Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg level on points with Al-Qemzi, who recognizes that he may face his biggest test of the championship yet as he pursues a record fifth F2 world crown.
“There’s only one strategy for San Nazzaro, and that’s to go for first place,” said the Emirati driver. “I’m sure I can win there again. It’s my favorite place for testing, and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.
“It’s going to be tough to take the championship. Riabko is going for it and Mathilda is very fast as well. I wasn’t surprised to see her win in Lithuania. But I want the title and I believe in myself.”
Following their dominant one-two finish in round two in Norway, Al-Qemzi and Abu Dhabi teammate Mansoor Al-Mansoori both failed to reach the qualifying shoot-out in Lithuania, and had to settle for fifth and 10th places respectively in the Grand Prix.
“The weather was rough, and there were some big rollers, but there are no excuses,” said Al-Qemzi. “The most important thing for me was to score points in the championship and move on to the next round. So here we are, and we know what we need to do.”
If he can retain his F2 crown this season he will move one clear of Sweden’s four-time winner, Erik Stark, to become the most successful driver in the history of the championship.
The former Nations Cup and F4-S world champion finished ninth on his first F2 campaign back in 2016 before claiming the first of his world titles the following year.
The others followed in 2019, 2021 and again last year when Al-Qemzi was crowned champion with one round to spare in Portugal. This is where back-to-back Grand Prix race weekends again bring the season to a climax next month.
