Carella aims to extend advantage in China GP

liuzhou — Team Abu Dhabi’s Alex Carella has the perfect opportunity to extend his advantage in the 2017 UIM F1 H2O World Championship when he and team-mates Thani and Rashed Al Qemzi take part in this weekend’s Grand Prix of Liuzhou in China.

Three-time World Champion Carella currently leads the sixround series by eight points after three races and knows that a podium finish would enhance his chance of winning a first driver’s title with the team running under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club.

Team Sweden’s Erik Stark — a four-time F2 World Champion — led from pole position to secure his first ever victory in F1 in Harbin last month and the Swede is now tied in third position in the points’ standings with defending champion Philippe Chiappe of France. Two-time World Champion Sami Selio is Carella’s closest rival on 30 points, despite not finishing the last race in China.

“I start to think of the championship now and not winning each of the races,” said a determined Carella. “In Harbin, Sami (Selio) and Shaun (Torrente) retired and I decided to settle for my fourth position.”

Thani Al Qemzi is one of the most experienced racers on the F1 H2O scene and the Emirati holds sixth in the championship standings. He knows that victory in Liuzhou could catapult him into contention for the title as well, although his and Carella’s joint success so far this season means that Team Abu Dhabi heads to Liuzhou with a 19-point advantage over Team Sweden in the UIM Teams’ Championship.