Team Abu Dhabi 4’s Shaun Torrente and Faleh Al-Mansoori have today become the 2018 UIM XCAT World Champions.

Although the UIM haven’t officially posted notification of the cancellation of the final 2 races that were due to be staged in Dubai over 29 November – 1 December, they have now removed the event from their online calendar.

Furthermore, I understand that the UIM were aware that the Dubai venue was in doubt some while ago and tried to find a host to replace it – To no avail.

On the 26th of October, the UIM’s XCAT media team sent out an official press release stating that a race would be held in the ‘UAE’, clearly this is now not the case.

Torrente and Faleh Al-Mansoori’s World Championship was certainly worthy, they beat off stiff competition from Nadir Bin Hendi and Arif Saif Al-Zafeen in Dubai Police, their Abu Dhabi team mates Rashed al Tayer and Majed al Mansoori and The Blue Roo – Team Australia (Pål Virik Nilsen and Jan Trygve Braaten).

It is unfortunate however that the pairing have won in a similar way to that of Alberto Comparato, who was confirmed as the 2018 UIM F2 World Champion while sitting at home in Italy.

2018 UIM XCAT World Championship

1. Team Abu Dhabi #4 213pts

2. Dubai Police 3 204pts

3. Team Abu Dhabi #5 184pts

4. Team Australia 8 162pts

5. 222 Offshore 10 159pts

6. HPI 96 97pts

7. Kuwait 17 93pts

8. New Star 9 91pts

9. Venus Bali/Viniexsport/Pastamato 46 81pts

10. Yacht Club Como 20 79pts

11. Videx/Ribot 22 65pts

12. Swecat Racing 2 46pts

13. Maritimo 12 0pts