Victory Team Takes First in Qatar Cup Race No. 1
Taking the lead from the start and never relinquishing it, the Dubai-based Victory team of Nasir Bin Hendi and Arif Al Zaffain laid down an impressive performance in the Supercat Light class during the first race of inaugural Qatar Cup on Doha Bay this afternoon. The team, which typically runs modified outboard engines in the Union International Motonautique XCAT World Series, appeared to have no trouble with the required switch to 280-hp outboards for the Qatar Cup event.
Shown during yesterday’s qualifing event, the Victory team lead wire to wire in today’s Supercat Light race. Photo by Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix
Not to be left in Victory’s mist, the United States-based Hulk Team of driver Rob Nunziato and throttleman Dan Lawrence held second place throughout the 10-lap race, which featured a “long” (6-plus-mile) first lap followed by nine “regular” 5-plus-mile laps for a total of 10 laps. Holding onto third place was as the Abu Dhabi team of Faleh Al Mansoon and Rashid Al Tayer.
Said Hulk crew chief Burgess Haussermann, “We’re right there with Victory, keeping the same pace, holding the same distance between them. We went with the exac same setup we used yesterday in qualifying.”
Throughout the event on a glassy and nearly breezeless Doha Bay, Victory was three to four seconds faster than it had been with its pole position qualifying time when it claimed the top slot. Midway through the seventh lap, the team lapped LA Marine of Allen Christy and Lee Austin, which eventually pulled off the course with a mechanical issue.
Editor’s note: Official results have not yet been provided. Speedonthewater.com will update this story if changes to the results occur. Contrary to reports on Facebook and elsewhere, this is no live feed online from this event.
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