If the Qatar Grand Prix, round 1 of the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship gives any indication of what the 2008 season is going to look like, then racing fans are in for a heck of a season.
Not only were spectators and fans given a jolt upon witnessing Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis crash their race boat, Qatar 96, but everyone, including those from the Qatar team, were surprised to learn that Curtis and Sheikh Hassan still placed second in the standings. Luckily, they logged a good enough time on their first run and switched boats in time to take an unexpected second position.
The crash occurred halfway through the session on Qatar 96’s final turn of their second run as the boat caught a gust of wind, flipping it backwards. Sheikh Hassan and Curtis both survived unscathed but had a few words to say about the crash. “It’s a tough corner and the wind makes it very difficult,” Curtis said. “We had to push hard because we knew we were down on the split time. We were halfway through the corner, the front-end lifted and she went over.”
Both racers were optimistic for the rest of the season, however.
“After the dramas we had on Friday, this was a fantastic result for the
entire team,” Sheikh Hassan said. “I never in my wildest dreams
expected to finish on the podium in this boat, never mind in second
position. When we managed to pass Negotiator into fourth that was a
bonus and the Jotun stopped and Qatar 95 had a problem with an engine
and we were in second.”
Victory 1, piloted by World Champion Arif Saif Al Zafeen and teammate
Nadir Bin Hendi, took first after their third run with an amazing run
to edge them over Qatar 96. “Obviously I’m very happy with the first
place as it means Nadir and I are working well together,” Al Zafeen
said. “The result gives us a lot of confidence.”
If the Qatar Grand Prix, round 1 of the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship gives any indication of what the 2008 season is going to look like, then racing fans are in for a heck of a season.
