Abu Dhabi team eye good start in China
zhengzhou (china) — The prestigious XCAT World Championship returns to the international powerboat racing calendar for the first time since last November this weekend and is now running under the auspices of the UIM.
A four-race calendar has been devised with three back-to-back Chinese races in Zhengzhou (October 13-15), Weihei (October 20-22) and Xiamen (October 27-29) this month and a finale in Dubai at the start of December.
Team Abu Dhabi entered up to two boats when the series ran under the WPPA banner until the end of 2016 and the outfit running out of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) will be represented by the experienced Rashed Al Tayer and Majed Al Mansoori in Team Abu Dhabi 5 this season, with Faleh Al Mansoori travelling to China as a reserve driver.
Last year, Team Abu Dhabi finished second at both their home round of the XCAT series in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai and third in Lugano, but mechanical woes cost them dearly in Fujairah.
This weekend’s Zhengzhou Grand Prix marks a welcome return to the calendar for offshore racing after the UIM Class 1 racing series failed to find a regular promoter and the UIM took control of XCAT racing and announced a four-race calendar for the last few weeks of the racing season.
The opening two races at Zhengzhou will be staged on Longhu Lake in the Zhengdong New District and will run under the control of Chinese promoter Baia Blù D’Oriente (BBDO) with the permission of the Chinese Motorboat Association (CMA). Fourteen boats have been shipped to the People’s Republic and Al Tayer and Al Mansoori can expect fierce competition from regular rivals including Dubai’s four-time XCAT champion Arif Saif Al Zafeen and new British partner Scott Williams in a Victorybuilt XCAT, Australia’s Brett Luhrmann and Norway’s Pal-Virik Nilsen and rival teams from Italy, Sweden, Spain, Australia and the Middle East.
Salem Al Adidi and Eisa Al Ali were always on a competitive pace in Dubai 33 last year and are reported to be ready to challenge for honours in Victory 3 this year.