Torrente And Team Abu Dhabi Gearing Up For 2021 F1 H2O Season

Postponed since the early days of the pandemic, the Union Internationale Motonautique F1 H2O World Championship Series is set to return Sept. 10-12 with the European Grand Prix in San Nazzaro, Italy. Two-time and defending F1 H2O world champion Shaun Torrente is set to rejoin his Abu Dhabi teammates to continue his quest for another world title this season.

Shaun Torrente and his Abu Dhabi teammates are gearing up for the return of the F1 H2O international tunnel-boat racing series next month. Photo for editorial use only courtesy/copyright Simon Palfrader©.

“I can’t wait to be back with the team,” said Torrente, who lives in Southwest Florida and is the subject of the most recent episode in the seven-segment Speed On The Water “In The Lead” video series. “The Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan has given us an incomparable opportunity and I’m looking forward to once again represent—and win for—Team Abu Dhabi.”

The upcoming event is F1 H2O’s first race in Italy following a 15-year absence from the country. San Nazzaro is a uniquely familiar setting for Team Abu Dhabi, as the team tests and prepares its race boats there. Headed by international tunnel-boat racing legend Guido Capellini, the DAC tunnel-boat facility also is nearby.

“We are very happy to resume our racing activity in Italy, a location that means a lot for the powerboat world,” said Lavinia Cavallero, the senior vice-president of the H2O organization. “I would like to deeply thank all the people and institutions who with their work and efforts are helping us to realize the Grand Prix.”

CLICK HERE TO WATCH IN THE LEAD WITH SHAUN TORRENTE

Torrente said that he and his Abu Dhabi teammates are equally thrilled to be heading back to region they know so well.

“San Nazzaro is a special place for us,” he explained. “The parents of my radioman Alessandro Cremona operate this racing club, so it’s a big deal for us to have that local connection, in addition to all of the extensive testing we do there.”

Torrente will head to Italy at the end of the month to take part in an extensive pre-season testing program with Team Abu Dhabi. He’ll return to the United States in time to compete alongside his Super Stock-class CMR Roofing team cockpit-mate Eric Belisle to in the P1 Offshore St. Pete Grand Prix, Sept. 3-5, in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Said Torrente (holding trophy), “I can’t wait to be back with the team.”

Editor’s note: A frequent contributor to speedonthewater.com, Coleman McGowan is covering the American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series for the daily news site.

Torrente And Team Abu Dhabi Gearing Up For 2021 F1 H2O Season

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