Team Abu Dhabi sign world champion powerboat star Alex Carella

Sport360 staff 04:21 12/03/2015
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  • Alex Carella, the Italian two-time UIM F1 H20 World Champion, has joined Team Abu Dhabi and will take part in this weekend’s Grand Prix of Qatar in Doha Bay.

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    The former Qatar Team stalwart joins forces with mentor and 10-time World Champion Guido Cappellini, who was recently appointed Team Abu Dhabi manager. Carella will link up with the Thani Al Qamzi as the Italian bids for a fourth world title. 

    “I am thrilled to be joining Team Abu Dhabi,” said Carella, a veteran of 32 Grand Prix. “I have often thought about this team in the past and they know exactly the meaning of professionalism and competing at the highest level. I know this race in Qatar well and will be aiming to get my new career off to a winning start."

    Team Abu Dhabi general manager Salem Rumaithi said: “Alex is one of the finest racers in the world and probably the best of his generation.

    “We are delighted that he has joined our team and we can now benefit from the talents of Thani and Alex this season.”

    Al Qamzi is a veteran of 110 Grand Prix and is delighted to have Carella as his team-mate for the new season.

    “Alex joining the team gives me a strong motivation to succeed. I have enjoyed competing against him for several years when he was an integral member of the Qatar Team and it is great that we are now team-mates and will be working together for Team Abu Dhabi.”

    Practice and time trails will take tomorrow (Friday) and the 2015 Grand Prix of Qatar will get under way on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Team Russia’s Andrei Panyushkin and Konstantin Ustinov won the 2015 UIM Nations Cup World Series in Qatar yesterday (Wednesday).

    The duo were first and fifth in the opening race and second and third in Race 2 to confirm overall victory from Team Belarus and Team Germany.

    Team UAE’s Rashed Al Qemzi was the sole entrant in the Emirati team and was impressive in both sprint races.

    In Race 1, Al Qemzi stormed through from the rear of the field to snatch third, but was deprived of second overall in Race 2 when he was penalised a lap and slipped to 10th after striking a turn buoy. Team UAE’s Rashed Al Remeithi withdrew to enable Al Qemzi to fight for outright victory in the No14 boat.

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