Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al-Qemzi delivered a polished and professional performance to finish fourth and clinch the UIM F2 World Championship title in Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portugal on the Douro River.

The Emirati, running out of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC), started the race from ninth place and gradually moved up the leader board to ensure that he secured enough points to deprive Swedish rival Pierre Lundin of the opportunity to make a late bid for the title.

Lundin shadowed local driver and pole position winner Duarte Benavente from the start to the chequered flag, but second place was not enough to deprive a delighted Al-Qemzi of his second world title in two season – the Emirati won last year’s UIM F4-S Trophy.

This is a special day for me and everyone within Team Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club.
This title is for everyone who has supported me and to the whole team for all their efforts this season.
I knew what I had to do.
Losing Q3 because of the wind did not help at all, but I managed my race well and we have been rewarded with the World Championship.

UIM F2 World Championship – final positions

1st. Rashed Al-Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi

41 points

2nd. Pierre Lundin (SWE) Lundin F1 Racing

35 points

3rd. Nelson Morin (FRA) F1 China CTIC Team

23 points              

4th. Duarte Benavente (POR) Atlantic Team

20 points

5th. Ola Pettersson (SWE) Skåne Racing Team F2

16 points   

6th. Johan Österberg (SWE) Team AJO

15  points                   

6th. Konstantin Ustinov (RUS) New Star

15  points

6th. Edgaras Riabko (LIT) F2 Lithuania

15  points

9th. Alberto Comparato (ITA) Comporato F2

12  points                

10th. Oskar Samuelsson (SWE) OS Racing

11  points      

11th. Daniel Segenmark (SWE) Segenmark Racing

10  points