Shaun Torrente sets the bar high
American driver feels the capital set-up has done all the right things
Team Abu Dhabi’s Shaun Torrente cannot see how the rest of the field can cope up with the marker set by his side going into the final two races of the 2018 UIM F1H2O Powerboat Championships that conclude in the UAE next month.
The Miami resident — who made a switch from Victory Team at the end of last season — is at the top of the drivers’ standings following his classy pole to line finish to lead a podium sweep for Team Abu Dhabi at the Grand Prix of India, the fifth round of the competition earlier this month.
Now heading to familiar waters at the Abu Dhabi Corniche in the first week of December followed by the finale at the Buhairah Corniche in Sharjah, Torrente finds it difficult to see any other team or driver challenge the might of Team Abu Dhabi.
“We put in a lot of hard work during the pre-season and all this work is now paying off for all of us,” Torrente told Gulf News.
“Honestly speaking, I would find it difficult to see how anyone could turn things around at this stage of the competition and get past our boats. Even if there is someone then we would be ready for that challenge,” he added.
Team Abu Dhabi have dominated the podium bagging 12 of the 15 available slots including three successive podium lockouts in France, China and India.
Torrente leads the trio of Team Abu Dhabi drivers with three wins and a third place, while teammate Erik Stark has two wins and a couple of thirds. Always a dour fighter, Thani Al Qamzi, who led the title race going into the Grand Prix of India, is third with three third places.
“What we’ve done is that we have stuck around as a team. As drivers, we are the ones to deliver on the water, but it is the entire crew and set-up of the team that has gelled so well and helped deliver consistent results throughout this season,” Torrente explained.