Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi strengthened his quest to secure his 4th World F2 Championship title this weekend in San Nazzaro, Italy.
The San Nazzaro Grand Prix saw 17 competitors representing 11 different nations head to the River Po for the second round of the 2023 UIM F2 World Championship.
Saturday’s competition saw the drivers battle it out in free practice and Qualifying to determine who would have the all important pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix race.
Giacomo Sacchi had gone fastest in free practice but it was the current Championship leadership Rashed Al Qemzi that secured pole position ahead of Norway’s Tobias Munthe-Kaas, with Sacchi taking third on the grid.
As the lights went out for the start of the Race Al Qemzi shot into action like a rocket and led the fleet into the first turn with Munthe-Kaas following in hot pursuit in second. As the fleet headed towards the right hander Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg collided with the turn buoys and caused the race to be restarted.
As the boats lined up for another start Portugal’s Duarte Benavente was missing with an engine problem causing him to retire from the race.
Al Qemzi once more powered away when the lights went out for the start of the Race this time Giacomo Sacchi rounded the turn in second with Daniel Segenmark from Sweden in that strong third place position.
A collision between Munthe-Kaas and Finland’s Totti Kemppainen saw the competitors held under a yellow flag whilst Kemppainen’s boat was towed off the racing line.
As the boats gathered for the green flag Segenmark sat right on the shoulder of Sacchi looking to get the jump on him when the race was restarted.
The move paid off and as Al Qemzi pulled away in the front a battle ensued between the Swede and Monégasque racers for the remaining 30 laps as they fought hard for the silver medal.
Al Qemzi put in a faultless performance to take his second Grand Prix win of the season and strengthen his lead in the championship. Whilst Daniel Segenmark managed to keep Sacchi at bay to secure himself the silver medal, with Sacchi completing the Podium in the bronze medal position.
On winning the San Nazzaro Grand Prix Rashed Al Qemzi had this to say “It was a really hot and tough race today, but my boat was performing like a rocket.”
He continued “I’m really happy to take another win it means a lot to me and my team! We now look towards Portugal in two weeks and hopefully another win in the championship.”
Podium presentations saw local diginitries award the prizes in front of crowds of people that had come to enjoy the racing on the River Po.
The championship now heads to Portugal on the 16th & 17th September as the Grand Prix of Peso da Régua.
