Countdown to first F1 Grand Prix of the season

3:15 AM Thu 5 Mar 2009 GMT

'Jay Price Qatar Team Photo: Vittorio Ubertone 2008' U.I.M. F1 World Championship &copy

With the first GP of the season in Portimao, Portugal fast approaching, F1 fans will witness dramatic new changes to the race format which includes two heats to each Grand Prix. The winner of each event will be the pilot with the highest total points. Who will those drivers be?

Starting with the reigning world champion Jay Price, nothing has changed in the Qatar team line-up as Price still has Ahmed Al Fayed alongside him. The 'Mad Croc' team features three drivers, heat leader Sami Selio, Massimo Roggiero and ex.Rainbow rookie Daniel Martignoni.

Third in the 2008 championship Jonas Andersson has F1's only 'lady driver' Marit Stromoy as his racing partner in Team Azerbaijan with Spain's Tiste Orozco in the reserve seat. Possibly the biggest surprise of the new campaign is Philippe Dessertenne's decision to stand-down as captain of China CTIC leaving driving duties to Pierre Lundin and Fabian Kalsw. Also missing will be Australia's Trask brothers. The downturn in the global economic climate has resulted in company boss Bob Trask deciding to give the 2009 season a miss. However the Trask banner will still be there in the shape of Russia's Stanislav Kourtsenovki who has chartered the team and will be joined by Julius Leysen.

Team Atlantic remains much the same with Duarte Benavente and Philippe Chiappe although they have recruited a reserve driver in Peter Morin. Francesco Cantando of Team Singha Beer retains the services of Marco Gambi and they also have a reserve, Umberto Valentini. The long and the short of 800 Doctor Glass line-up is that diminutive Fabio Comparato will be alongside the giant Valerio Lagiannella.

This year the dynamic Abu Dhabi duo of Thani Al Qamzi and Ahmed Al Hameli will be hoping their 2008 mechanical gremlins will be bygone memories as they chase for gold. They have a reserve in Rashed Al Tayer. Finally the driver who will be pushing hard for a unique 10th gold medal, Guido Cappellini. He has yet another partner in his Zepter Team, Latvian Uvis Gross with ace substitute Ivan Brigada in the reserve seat. This season promises to be ultra competitive and it's anyones guess who will feature in the championship shakedown come December in the UAE.

Shenzhen - China - October 26, 2008 - The day of the race of the Grand Prix of Shenzhen. The final results are: Sami Selio of Woodstock Red Devil Racing the winner, Jay Price of Qatar Team second and therd Hamad Al Hameli of Team Abu Dhabi. This GP is the 6th leg of the UIM F1 Powerboat World Championship 2008. Picture by Vittorio Ubertone/Idea Marketing. - F1Boats Photo Service 2007 Click Here to view large photo

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by David Sewell

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