Rashed Al Qemzi, who has the 2019 the UIM F2 World Championship title within his grasp, believes Team Abu Dhabi could be an even stronger force in the series next year.
The Emirati driver, who can secure his second F2 world crown in three years at Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portugal, expects team-mate Rashed Al Tayer to emerge as a strong championship contender.
“Rashed is confident that he can start getting on the podium before the end of this season and everyone in the team is behind him,” said Al Qemzi.
“He showed by winning the Speed Run in Norway how competitive he can be and we expect him to be faster next season and make us stronger as a team.”
With thousands of spectators getting a ringside seat on the banks of the Albufeira da Pala reservoir in Ribadouro, Al Qemzi goes into Sunday’s Grand Prix of Portugal holding a 30-point lead over Sharjah’s Dutch driver Ferdinand Zandbergen.
Among his biggest challengers this weekend is expected to be Portugal’s Duarte Benavente, currently third in the world title race and one of five drivers still with a mathematical possibility to catch Al Qemzi.
With the final round to follow on home waters in Abu Dhabi on December 5-7, Al Qemzi is in a relaxed mood, although he has set his sights on taking pole position for a fourth successive time this weekend and adding to his wins in Lithuania and Norway.
2019 UIM F2 Grand Prix of Portugal Timetable
Saturday 14th
15:00 – 18:00 UIM F2 Qualifying
Sunday 15th
11:00 – 12:00 UIM F2 Warm Up
12:15 – 12:30 Repechage Race
15:30 Parade Lap UIM F2 Grand Prix of Portugal
15:45 UIM F2 Grand Prix of Portugal
*All times GMT +1
2019 UIM F2 Grand Prix of Portugal
| Country | Number | Driver | Team | Hull | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWE | 2 | Johan Österberg | Team AJO | Molgaard | Mercury 200 XS |
| GBR | 3 | Owen Jelf | Owen Jelf Racing | BaBa | Mercury 200 XS |
| UAE | 4 | Ahmad Al Fahim | Victory Team | Victory | Mercury 200 XS |
| SWE | 6 | Ola Pettersson | Skåne Racing Team | Molgaard | Mercury 200 XS |
| USA | 8 | Brent Dillard | Dillard Sports | Moore | Mercury 200 XS |
| NOR | 9 | Mette Brandt Bjerknæs | MBR | Moore | Mercury 200 XS |
| SWE | 10 | Oskar Samuelsson | OS Racing | Molgaard | Mercury 200 XS |
| SWE | 11 | Bimba Sjöholm | Team Sjöholm | Molgaard | Mercury 200 XS |
| NED | 17 | Ferdinand Zandbergen | Sharjah Team | BaBa | Mercury 200 XS |
| GER | 19 | Stefan Hagin | Rowe Powerboat | Molgaard | Mercury 200 XS |
| UAE | 27 | Manoor Al Mansoori | Victory Team | Victory | Mercury 200 XS |
| UAE | 35 | Rashed Al Qemzi | Team Abu Dhabi | DAC | Mercury 200 XS |
| UAE | 36 | Rashed Al Tayer | Team Abu Dhabi | DAC | Mercury 200 XS |
| ESP | 37 | Hector Sanz | Icar Nautica Racing | DAC | Mercury 200 XS |
| GBR | 40 | Steve Hoult | Team WNT | Mercury 200 XS | |
| LTU | 41 | Edgaras Riabko | F2 Lithuania | DAC | Mercury 200 XS |
| POR | 45 | Duarte Benavente | Atlantic Team | Moore | Mercury 200 XS |
| SWE | 54 | Daniel Segenmark | SF2R | DAC | Mercury 200 XS |
| NOR | 77 | Tobias Munthe-Kaas | Stromoy Racing | BaBa | Mercury 200 XS |
| FIN | 95 | Kalle Viippo | Kalle Viippo Racing | Mercury 200 XS |
