Tønsberg, Norway – In a groundbreaking event, Alia Abdul Salam will participate as the first Emirati woman in a powerboat racing competition. She will compete in the prestigious Tønsberg Boat Race, which will take place on the first weekend of August 2024.

Abdul Salam has undergone intensive training in Abu Dhabi under the guidance of Frode Sundsdal, who is also the organizer of the Tønsberg Boat Race.

Alia Abdul Salam has shown impressive skills and determination during her training in Abu Dhabi, which bodes well for her debut in Tønsberg. Frode Sundsdal is proud of what they have achieved together.

“It is incredibly exciting that we will be visited by both Alia and Obaid. They will both go far in powerboat racing,” says Sundsdal.

During a trip to the Middle East, Sundsdal also managed to secure participation from Obaid Bin Mubarak, another promising powerboat racer from the United Arab Emirates. Mubarak has already established himself as a talent to watch, and Sundsdal believes that both he and Abdul Salam will add a new, exciting dimension to the competition.

“The participation of Alia and Obaid marks notjust a sporting event but also an important cultural step forward for powerboat racing. We are incredibly proud to host these talented athletes and look forward to seeing how they perform on the international stage,” says Sundsdal.

Alia Abdul Salam has expressed her excitement and awe over the opportunity ahead of her.

“This is a great honor and an important moment for me personally, and I hope it will inspire more women from my home country to pursue their sports dreams,” says Abdul Salam.

The Tønsberg Boat Race will undoubtedly be an exciting competition, with both local and international participants vying for honor and prestige. Expectations are high, and with Alia Abdul Salam and Obaid Bin Mubarak at the starting line, we can expect a unique combination of talent, cultural exchange, and sportsmanship.

All eyes will be on Tønsberg 1st weekend of August, not only to follow the progress of the competition but also to witness a historic milestone that could inspire future generations of powerboat racers, especially women, from around the world.

Following the announcement that Alya Abdul Salam, the first Emirati female to participate in F4 powerboat races and hold an UIM International Racing License will participate in the Scandinavian Championship this summer, comes the news that Dubai’s Obaid Bin Mubarak has also teamed up with the Norwegian based RaceFactory.

Run by its founder Frode Sundsdal,  who organises the highly successful Tønsberg Boat Show and Tønsberg Båtrace, a round of the 2024 UIM F2 World Championship, the RaceFactory team has spent the last three days carrying out a testing programme that involved Mubarak familiarising himself with the F4 hull that he will compete in at a series of races this year culminating in a trip to Viverone in Italy for the final round of the UIM F4 World Championship in mid-September.

Mubarak brings with him a wealth of experience having started his racing career in Aquabikes at the age of fourteen, initially competing on stand-up jet skis for two years before transitioning to the highly competitive performance jet skis.

After a decade of Aquabikes he made the switch to F4 circuit racing where he secured a second-place finish overall at his race debut in Abu Dhabi back in December 2023. The high point came earlier this year when the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club organised the second round of the UAE F4 Powerboat Championship at the Al Khan Beach in Sharjah City where he went one better. This time Mubarak qualified on pole position just ahead of the Kuwait driver Rashid Aldhawas, then went on to dominate both heats beating Nasser Al Marri by ten seconds in the first and again in the second one to secure maximum championship points.

‘I believe racing F4 offers me a promising future due to the potential for advancement across circuit categories and its broader scope’ said Mobarak. ‘I am very pleased that these early successes led me to an exciting opportunity in Norway with Frode at the RaceFactory, a workshop renowned for its high standards and impeccable cleanliness—truly the cleanest I’ve ever seen.’

 

Frode Sundsdal was extremely please with how all three of his young drivers trained at the Akkerhaugen venue.

‘This weekend not only have we been blessed with glorious weather here in Norway but also I have witnessed three talented drivers, who really do get on so well off the water but once on it will battle their hardest to finish ahead of their teammates.’

Mubarak concluded by saying

‘Training alongside talented young racers like the 2023 GT30 World Champion William Martinsen and the equally competitive Sindre Sundsdal Anundsen has been exhilarating. Training with top-notch talent pushes me to excel, making this an excellent kick-off to my Scandinavian Summer.’

There is little that Thani Al Qemzi has not achieved in a remarkable UIM F1H2O World Championship career, and the Team Abu Dhabi star wants to add to his haul of achievements in this weekend’s Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy.

Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi clinched his fourth UIM F2 World Championship title in an exhilarating race at the Grand Prix of Portugal. With a perfect strategic approach and a second-place finish in the penultimate round of the championship, Al Qemzi solidified his position as one of the top powerboat racers in the world.

Lithuania’s Edgaras Riabko emerged victorious at the event, but it was Al Qemzi who stole the spotlight with his consistent performance throughout the season. Winning previous F2 titles in 2017, 2019, and 2021, Al Qemzi has now firmly etched his name in the history books as one of the most successful powerboat racers of all time.

Celebrations were in full swing for Team Abu Dhabi as Al Qemzi’s teammate, Mansoor Al Mansoori, also secured a place on the podium with a remarkable third-place finish. Starting from fifth place, Al Mansoori showcased his exceptional driving skills, adding to the team’s success and camaraderie.

In a thrilling battle for the lead, Al Qemzi was narrowly edged out by Riabko at the start of the race. However, instead of pushing too hard to regain the lead, Al Qemzi adopted a calculated approach, settling into second place and focusing on maintaining his position. With his closest rivals, Giacomo Sacchi and Stefan Arand, struggling to catch up, Al Qemzi played the long game, preserving his chances for the final round of the championship.

Supporting his teammate’s ambitions, Al Mansoori strategically climbed two places in the early stages of the race to secure third place. This served as a crucial buffer, guarding Al Qemzi’s position from potential threats from behind. However, fortune favored the Team Abu Dhabi duo as Sacchi experienced mechanical problems and Arand settled for fifth place, giving Al Qemzi and Al Mansoori a clear path to the podium.

Al Qemzi will now set his sights on another victory in the season’s final Grand Prix on the Tagus river in Vila Velha de Ródão next Sunday. It was in this very race two years ago that Al Qemzi secured his third F2 world title with a phenomenal performance. With momentum on his side, Al Qemzi will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with as he aims for a third win this season.

This victory not only cements Al Qemzi’s place as a dominant force in powerboat racing but also highlights the incredible success of Team Abu Dhabi under the leadership of manager Guido Capsellini. Since taking charge eight years ago, Capsellini has delivered a staggering 17 world championship titles to the UAE capital. The team’s dedication, expertise, and unwavering support for their drivers have undoubtedly propelled them to the top of the sport.

Al Qemzi’s journey to this championship title was not without its challenges. In a free practice session leading up to the race, he encountered a moment of uncertainty when his boat flipped and sustained damage. However, thanks to the quick work of the Team Abu Dhabi technicians, the boat was repaired in record time, ensuring Al Qemzi’s participation in the race.

With his fourth F2 world championship title now secured, Al Qemzi is poised to continue his dominance in the world of powerboat racing. His skill, determination, and strategic brilliance make him a formidable competitor, and all eyes will be on him as he looks to add to his impressive collection of titles in the years to come.