Several weeks ago the Sharjah Team took the decision to run their UIM F2 World Championship driver Ferdinand Zandbergen in the last round of the 2021 UIM F1H2O Championship and today the young racer paid them back when he qualified for the Top Six Shoot-Out for Grand Prix of Figueira Da Foz in Portugal.
‘That was just amazing’ said Zandbergen. ‘I was totally not expecting that.’
In a field of fifteen experienced racers the twenty-six-year Dutch driver, who actually made his race debut for the Sharjah Team just some ninety miles north in Porto back in 2015, when he raced for them in the F4-S Trophy class, did not look out of place but did admit that he made a couple of mistakes when he took the right hand turn on the five-pin course laid out the Rio Mondego.
Also admitting to a few mistakes was the twice World Champion Sami Selio. ‘I just kept thinking that the propeller I had chosen was a fraction too small’ he said. He went onto explain that with this thought in his mind he then over compensated his normal smooth driving style particularly in the pin turns. Although taking a slightly safer approach he still manged to qualify in third place on the grid for tomorrows race, just ahead of the Norwegian racer Marit Stromoy.
Photo : Chris Davis // PRW // Powerboatpix
Starting in tenth place will be Filip Roms, who completes the Sharjah Team trio. ‘I can’t say I’m happy with today performance’ he said. ‘I need a really good start because it’s a tight circuit so, overtaking will be a challenge.’
Taking pole position for the Grand Prix of Figueira Da Foz will be the Swedish racer Jonas Andersson, who had been quick throughout today’s qualifying sessions. The current championship points leader, Thani Al Qemzi will start just ahead of Roms in ninth place.
With the first of two Grand Prix taking place in this Atlantic coast holiday resort the Sharjah Team are very aware that tomorrows race is only half the battle, as what ever the result they will have to quickly re-set to go again on Saturday morning before the concluding round of the 2021 UIM F1H2O World Championship takes place on Sunday.
The action gets underway with the warm up session at 10:30 local time Friday morning. Then the parade lap gets under way at 15:00 followed 30 minutes later with the start of the Grand Prix.
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