Qatar Team Resumes F1 H2O Title Chase in China

It’s been nearly seven months since Italy’s Alex Carella—the Qatar Team’s three-time defending world champion—defied gusting winds on Doha Bay to begin his defense of his UIM F1 H2O World Championship crown in winning style at the Grand Prix of Qatar.

Three-time defending champ Alex Carella of Italy sits atop the F1 H2O World Championship points standings heading into China.

On Monday, Carella and his American teammate Shaun Torrente will square off against the rest of the F1 H2O field for just the second time this year (a race in Ukraine was cancelled due to political concerns) at the Grand Prix of China on Liuzhou’s Liu River.

In the season opener back in March, it was a tale of ups and downs for the team, which is backed by the Qatar Marine Sports Federation. Torrente led the race until an electrical fire eliminated his chances of winning his second career F1 H2O race. He heads into the race in China trailing Carella by 20 points with four races to go in Liuzhou, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Frenchman Philippe Chiappe sits five points behind Carella after the first round and Portugal’s Duarte Benavente is third, just eight points behind.

“There’s been a big gap in the calendar and that was unfortunate, but we have been busy in that period and carried out some very useful testing in Italy at the end of July and the start of August,” said Khalid bin Arhama Al-Kuwari, head of formula racing for QMSF. “Brendan Power has made some engine modifications for us and we are raring to go in China. It’s a short season this year with just five races, but we are ready to win again. Alex won in Liuzhou in 2012 and 2013, and I am sure he’ll be looking to make it a hat-trick in China. We have a great record in China. I suppose you could say we love Liuzhou.”

A hectic two days of competition begins on Sunday, Oct. 5, with free practice and time trials for both the F-4S and F1 racers. The all-important Grand Prix of China takes place Monday at 3 a.m. EDT.

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