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Abu Dhabi / Gulf Time
Abu Dhabi powerboat team’s star and Emirati champion Thani Al Qamzi is gearing up for a new season of “Formula 1 World Championship†to be held in the Indonesian city of Kopiko. The first round is scheduled to take place February 24- 26.
Famously known as “The White Sharkâ€, Thani Al Qamzi is preparing for his 22 season, aiming for the individual title for the championship, which he came close to achieving in more than one occasions.
In the last season, the Abu Dhabi team’s boats monopolised the full championship titles by winning the general title, the speed title, and the team title with the distinguished efforts of Thani Al Qamzi and Sean Torrente. Abu Dhabi team achieved the title eight times since 1997.
The best scorer in the competition has been the Italian Guido Capelli, with ten titles, followed by Abu Dhabi team in the second place as the best team in terms of numbers in the tournament. Capelli is the coach of the Abu Dhabi team presently.
Al-Qamzi is preparing for a strong competition this season. The championship, starting its first round in Indonesia next week, is continuing in the Republic of China in April, followed by an exciting season with three European rounds starting from France and then returning to Asia with two rounds. The final round is set to be in the emirate of Sharjah, in the UAE.
The Emirati star revealed his readiness to compete with the purpose and goal of achieving the title in his name this season and also contribute to defending the title that Abu Dhabi team achieved last season.
He said, “Through the years the desire to achieve the general title in my name grows. I came very close many seasons, most notably 2009, 2018 and 2021, and I still dream of achieving itâ€.
Al Qamzi added, “I have contributed in achieving many titles with my team that includes the speed title more than once, as well as the team title and the general title. But my dream does not stop here, I hope it will come into the light of reality every seasonâ€.
About preparations for the opening round in Indonesia, Al Qamzi confirmed that he is technically and physically ready for the first rounds of the new season, since the last season ended early in December.
“With the start of the new season within two months of the end of last season, we are still in the best readiness to provide the best level during the current opening round of the championship†he said.
Al-Qamzi revealed the difficulty of the task in facing the aspirations of the rest of the participants and competitors, especially with the presence of a large segment of heroes, led by Sami Sileo, the star of the Sharjah team, and the Swedish Jonas Anderson, as well as the strong return of “victory team†and its co-stars Ahmed Al-Fahim and Eric Stark.
As many as 20 contestants expected in the opening round. It is worth noting that the race takes place in Lake Toba in Indonesia for the first time, in addition to the fact that the championship has rarely started from the Asian continent as it always kicks off from Europe.