Qatar's Carella Wins Again in F1 H2O China Grand Prix; Torrente Finishes Fourth

The Qatar Team’s defending UIM F1 H2O World Champion—Italian driver Alex Carella—led from pole position to the checkered flag, crushing the opposition by more than half a minute in Monday’s 39-lap Grand Prix of China on Liuzhou’s Liu River.

Italy’s Alex Carella of the Qatar Team picked up his third-straight F1 H2O China Grand Prix victory in Liuzhou on Monday.

The 29-year-old Carella, who has won the last three world championships, lapped all but three boats while finishing in front of the impressive Swedish rookie Erik Stark to record his third successive win in Liuzhou. Carella takes a 25-point lead into the next round in Qatar in November.

“Today was a big challenge for me,” Carella said. “This was the first time racing in this boat for me. I started from the pole and I just wanted to have a good race for the team and keep up our momentum. Everything was perfect.”

Qatar teammate and Florida native Shaun Torrente started the race in 15th place after an engine change and fought back through the field to finish fourth overall behind Team Abu Dhabi’s Thani Al-Qamzi.

Shaun Torrente, who spun out in Sunday’s qualifying, worked his way up into fourth place after starting 15th in Monday’s race.

“I am really happy with this result,” said Khalid bin Arhama Al-Kuwari, head of formula racing at the Qatar Marine Sports Federation. “Alex did another fantastic job and made it look easy. I suppose it is the secret of qualifying on pole and managing your own race from the front. Shaun did well to come back after starting the race in 15th. I am sure he would have been up there fighting with Alex if he had not had a problem on Sunday. Now we take a good lead to Doha for the next race.”

Torrente, who bounced back following his mistake in qualifying on Sunday and set the fastest lap (45.30 seconds) during Monday morning’s second practice session, said that his plan was to charge hard from the start.

“I wanted to get through the middle of the field and make up as much time as possible and get through the first corner clean,” Torrente said. “I was confident that I could make up the rest of the time toward the end of the race.”

The Qatar Team’s Khalid Abdullah Al-Kuwari and Mohamed Al-Obaidly finished sixth and eighth overall in the second of the F-4S Trophy races. Germany’s Mike Szymura claimed pole position for the second day and went on to record his second win, with Australian youngster Rigby Briney in second place.

Qatar’s Carella Wins Again in F1 H2O China Grand Prix; Torrente Finishes Fourth

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