Ahmed Al Hameli has his fingers crossed before Friday’s UIIM Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Ahmed Al Hameli, the Emirati powerboat driver, will start fourth from the grid in Friday’s UIM Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and said anyone from the front 10 could win the race. “It is a wide-open race,” Al Hameli said after qualifying at the Breakwater.

UAE powerboat racer Ahmed Al Hameli, seated in the cockpit, says any of the front 10 boats on the grid can win Friday's race. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club

ABU DHABI // Ahmed Al Hameli, the Emirati powerboat driver, will start fourth from the grid in Friday’s UIM Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and said that anyone from the front 10 could win the race.

“It is a wide-open race,” Al Hameli said after Thursday’s qualifying at the Breakwater.

“I hope to get a good start to race in the clear waters ahead of the others. That can be an advantage of starting in the top six in the race. Of course, the race is different from the qualification rounds, so fingers crossed.”

Thani Al Qamzi, the more experienced of the two Team Abu Dhabi drivers, will start from eighth but the surprise was Philippe Chiappe, the Frenchman, who will start the 18-boat race on pole.

“It is my first start on pole in more than nine years and 90 grands prix, so I am quite excited,” the China CTIC Team driver said. “I think I was a bit fortunate, as some of the drivers made mistakes at the turns. Otherwise the conditions were perfect.

“I have been coming down to race in Abu Dhabi for the last 12 years and, perhaps, that experience helped. Hopefully I can take advantage with a good start. It is going to be a tough race, however.”

After Chiappe comes American Shaun Torrente and Swede Erik Stark. Next is Al Hameli, who is ahead of championship leader Alex Carella, Sami Selio, Francesco Cantando and Al Qamzi.

Friday’s race starts at 3.30pm.

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