Qatar’s Carella, Torrente eye world title in season-finale

SHARJAH, UAE: The Qatar Team’s Shaun Torrente and Alex Carella will be in the thick of the drama in what promises to be the most exciting ever finishes in the history of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship at Friday’s 15th Grand Prix of Sharjah in the UAE.
The Qatar Team duo heads to Khalid Lagoon in the United Arab Emirates knowing that outright victory would give either of them the world title in the final round.
Finland’s double world champion Sami Selio holds a two-point lead in the title race over Torrente and Carella is a further two adrift but, with 20 on offer for first overall and only 15 for second, it’s ‘winner-takes-all’ in the Sharjah showdown. 
The Qatar Team has already won the UIM F1 H2O Teams’ Championship. 
“I have been working hard all season to put myself in this position to win it all on Friday,” said Torrente. 
He added: “Despite some bad breaks, we are still a flicker away from the title. This is my time and my place in history to do it.”
Carella wants to win a third championship in as many years.
He said: “I want this for me and the team because it would give me something that has not been done for 10 years and that is three straight world titles. I’ve never won in Sharjah and I want to go out there and show everyone that I can take the pressure and win it.”
Khalid bin Arhama Al Kuwari, head of formula racing at the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), which runs under the presidency of Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani, is relishing the prospect of the thrilling finale to the season, but is also mindful that it is not guaranteed that the Qatar Team will collect a third successive world title. 
“There is definitely pressure this time,” admitted Al Kuwari. He added: “It’s not like the last two years where we managed to win the title with Alex in Abu Dhabi. This is going to be a fight to the end and, insha’allah, we will get the third title in a row for the QMSF. 
“Shaun and Alex have to be careful. They need to drive hard, but be safe to win it. But, they also have to remember that this is a team effort and everyone has worked so hard to put them in this position and hopefully make this happen,” he explained.
Al Kuwari is delighted that the boats are in tip-tip condition for the final race of the season and Brendan Power and the team have got to the bottom of the engine issues that plagued them in recent outings. 
“Qualifying on Thursday will be so very important,” said Al Kuwari.
 He added: “I think that Q3 and getting pole position is almost 80 percent of winning the 
race.”
Frenchman Phillipe Chiappe is also in with a chance of claiming a maiden world 
championship. THE PENINSULA