Al-Qemzi full of confidence ahead of Grand Prix of Italy

ABU DHABI: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al-Qemzi says he feels no pressure in the battle to become a four-time winner of the UIM F2 World Championship as another tough assignment approaches in the Grand Prix of Italy this weekend.

The Emirati’s opening round victory in Lithuania, giving him an immediate five-point championship lead, was achieved in particularly difficult race conditions, as he launched a brand new boat into action for the first time and faced a formidable lineup of challengers.

With Estonia’s Stefan Arand, Monaco’s Giacomo Sacchi and British driver Colin Jelf among the hunting pack in Italy, and back-to-back Grand Prix weekends to follow in Portugal later this month, Al-Qemzi is taking everything in his stride.

“The championship is very competitive this year, but I don’t feel any nerves. The aim is for another win and we’ll see how it goes,” said the 2017, 2019 and 2021 F2 champion, who is aiming to join Sweden’s Erik Stark as a four-time title winner.

“The conditions in Lithuania were very difficult, with big rollers and the weather changing, and we had to make some weight adjustments to the boat,” he said.

“But in the end it was running perfectly and for Italy we’ll just be concentrating on selecting the right propellers.”

Before Friday’s free practice in San Nazzaro, Al-Qemzi and teammate Mansoor Al-Mansoori will spend two days testing under the guidance of Team Abu Dhabi manager, Guido Cappellini.

The experience and local knowledge of 10-time F1H2O champion Cappellini will play a big part in helping to keep Al-Qemzi on course for another world crown and in driving Al-Mansoori to put behind him a big disappointment in Lithuania.

The Emirati was holding third place before he overturned on the 28th