ABU DHABI: Team Abu Dhabi’s Mansoor Al-Mansoori is ready to handle the pressure as he bids to secure the 2022 UIM F2 World Championship in a tense finale to the powerboat season over the next two weekends in Portugal.
His first F2 Grand Prix victory in Lithuania last month has given the Emirati driver a three-point championship lead over Germany’s Stefan Hagin to take into Sunday’s penultimate round in Ribadouro.
With the final Grand Prix of the campaign to follow a week later 270 kilometers away in Vila Velha de Rodao, Al-Mansoori is determined to follow teammate and three-time world champion Rashed Al-Qemzi to the F2 crown.
He said: “I’m not surprised to be leading because, from the start of the season, I was aiming to put myself in a good position. “Competing alongside Rashed has given me a lot of extra confidence, and this helped me to take the lead in the championship with my first win in Lithuania.” Al-Mansoori paid tribute to Italian powerboat racing legend, Guido Cappellini, who has delivered 14 world titles to the UAE capital since taking over as Team Abu Dhabi manager in February 2015. “We all owe so much to Guido for the success the team has enjoyed since he took charge.