Team Abu Dhabi’s Shaun Torrente secures third world title in Sharjah

SHARJAH: In a dramatic close to the season, Team Abu Dhabi’s Shaun Torrente won his third drivers’ title in the UIM F1H2O World Championship here on Sunday after the Grand Prix of the Middle East.

Torrente thought his championship hopes had been destroyed after just eight of 38 laps when a brush with Poland’s Bartek Marszalek sent him sideways into an unavoidable collision with teammate Thani Al-Qemzi, putting both Abu Dhabi boats out of the race.

Sweden’s Jonas Andersson, who had grabbed the lead following a flying start, looked to be on his way to a second successive race victory to retain his world title before technical problems on the 28th lap forced his retirement.

His departure paved the way for French three-time former world champion Philippe Chiappe to secure victory on Khalid Lagoon in the last race of his illustrious career.

For Torrente, who won back-to-back world titles in 2018 and 2019, Sunday’s championship conclusion was built on his victories in the opening two rounds of the season in France and Italy, backed up by successive podium finishes.

For Al-Qemzi, who finished third in the championship behind Andersson, the wait for a first world drivers’ triumph goes on, although there can be no doubt about his hunger for success, as illustrated by his Grand Prix win in Sardinia two months ago.

The dynamic Abu Dhabi duo had already delivered a fifth consecutive team title to the UAE capital before today’s action got underway with the season’s final three-stage qualifying session.

Andersson grabbed an initial race advantage over Torrente by edging him into third place in the qualifying shoot-out, as Chiappe secured pole position. Trailing Torrente by three points at the start of the championship