10:57 AM Sat 3 Oct 2009 GMT
The return of Class 1 powerboat racing to Italian waters saw the current World Championship leaders Fazza set the pace in today's official practice session for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, round 4 of the UIM-WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship. Hot on their heels, Australian outfit Maritimo, showed their continuing promise with a fantastic set of laps to post the second quickest time ahead of Victory 1.
European and World Championship leaders, Fazza's Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi, dominated proceedings in the session, showing their rivals that despite the altitude and flat waters they are still the boat to beat here on Lake Maggiore. Their time of 2mins 35.51secs, almost two seconds faster than their nearest rival, demonstrating their intent to lift the first trophy of the season. 'This is my first time racing at this altitude. It makes the engine sound different at top speed and you have to tune your ear to get used to it, so not to push too hard,' said Bin Hendi, before adding, 'We are here to win both races and with them the European Championship.'
An impressive session for Maritimo saw them put together a string of fast lap-times just off the pace of the Championship leaders. With the flat waters and long corners suiting their raceboat, and after changing gear ratios and propellers, Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Nilsen, posted several laps in the 2mins 30's finishing with a best time of 2mins 37.50secs. Coming into this race with hopes of confirming a top three place in the European Championship, the Australian team will be delighted with their day's work. Barry-Cotter said: 'The flatter water suits the boat as it is easier to handle. We can keep the throttle on and glide around the corners. Now we are seeing what the raceboat can really do.'
Mohammad Al Mehairi and Jean-Marc Sanchez, Victory 1, went third quickest, with a time of 2mins 39.45secs. With just seven points between themselves and their team-mates in the European Championship standings, they will need to find some extra speed in order to challenge for the wins they need to overtake Fazza. 'It is completely different from any previous race we have had on a lake. The water is very sticky,' said Sanchez, 'Nadir and Arif are a very good partnership. The important thing is that Victory team win the title, but if we have a chance we will take it.'
An excellent showing by Giorgioffshore, producing their best practice session of the season and the best performance by an Italian team, in front of the partisan home crowd, saw Nicola Giorgi and Kurt Olsen, get quicker and quicker to shave seconds of their lap-times to finish fourth fastest with 2mins 45.36secs on their final lap. 'We have made some improvements on the engines. We ran as fast as we can, but there is still more to come from Kurt and myself,' commented Giorgi.
A blown piston limited the all-Norwegian pairing of Jorn Tandberg and Kolbjorn Selmer in Welmax to only one lap. The time of 2mins 45.90secs only good enough for fifth place, with Tandberg, the defending European Champion, knowing he will significantly have to improve on performance to defend his crown.
It was a frustrating return for Giovanni Carpitella and Christian Rivolta, in C.A.M., who had a difficult session in their heavy boat. With the flat conditions not ideal, the all-Italian pairing had to make do with the sixth fastest time, with the all-Italian team of Giampaolo Montavoci and Roberto Lo Piano, making his Class 1 debut in Foresti & Suardi-Roscioli Hotels, seventh fastest, ahead of Victory 77's Mohammed Al Marri and Abdullah Al Mehairbi.
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX - FIRST OFFICIAL PRACTICE
1. Fazza - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) - 02.35,51
2. Maritimo 11 - T Barry-Cotter (AUS) / PV Nilsen (NOR) - 02.37,50
3. Victory 1 - M Al Mehairi (UAE) / JM Sanchez (FRA) - 02.39,45
4. Giorgioffshore - K Olsen (NOR) / N Giorgi (ITA) - 02.45,36
5. Welmax - K Selmer (NOR) / J Tandberg (NOR) - 02.45,90
6. C.A.M. C Rivolta (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) - 02.48,03
7. Foresti & Suardi - Roscioli Hotels - R Lo Piano (ITA) / G Montavoci (ITA) - 02.49,36
8. Victory 77 - A Al Mehairbi (UAE) / M Al Marri (UAE) - 02.52,65
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by Class 1 media
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