Jay Price favourite for U.I.M. F1 Powerboat season start in Portimao

9:10 PM Fri 3 Apr 2009 GMT

'Jay Price Qatar Team Photo: Vittorio Ubertone 2008' U.I.M. F1 World Championship &copy

The start of the U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating is just hours away at the start of a very historic beginning in the 2009 campaign as two races will be run this weekend in front of what is expected to be very large crowds along the Arade River.

The start of back to back Grand Prix's will begin with the 30-minute Round One of the Championship scheduled 14:15 GMT.

Defending World Champion Jay Price of the Qatar Team comes into the first event riding a streak of six straight finishes he's ended on the podium either in first or second place. He will be driving his trusty DAC 2008 edition hull once again this season while his teammate Yousef Al Khulaifi has reportedly withdrawn for the event having returned home because of illness to family members.

Guido Cappellini of Italy arrives with a new DAC hull determined to find that illusive 10th title that has evaded him for the past three seasons. He has unvailed a new canopy system that is believed to be the strongest in the sport while waiting to find out if he also has the fastest boat as well while he chases his 8th victory in Portimao since 1999.

Finnish driver Sami Selio has a striking new design on his three boat Mad Croc F1 Team running the latest BABA designed hull built by his teammate Massimo Roggiero of Italy along with newcomer to the team rookie Daniele Martignoni. Sami will be looking for his first victory in Portugal with his best effort being a 2nd back in 2002.

Jonas Andersson of Sweden has unvailed his new paint design for his new sponsor Team Azerbaijan and looks to get consistency back into his program as he chases his first title. Teammate Marit Stromoy of Norway comes back to the team she began her F1 career with and hopes to get to the finish line and into the points for the first time in over a year.

Team Abu Dhabi has both Emirates drivers back for another season in Ahmed Al Qamzi and Thani Al Qamzi. Ahmed had pole position a year ago here in Portugal and led most of the race until Price passed him at the two-thirds mark to take the victory. Finishing is the name of the game for success with this team in '09.

Two new drivers, one old, one new will be in the starting line-up tomorrow. Veteran Andy Elliott returns for the start of his first full time season since 2006 and will take his 134th start in his Ace Racing Dragon boat from Great Britain. Latvian driver Ugis Gross joins teammate Cappellini in the Zepter Team as a rookie coming from Formula 2.

Drivers from 12 different nations will begin their journey towards a new title Saturday afternoon at 14:15 GMT or 9:15 EDT in North America for the 11th Grand Prix of Portugal. Stay tuned, the fun is about to begin in it's 29th year of racing.

by Philippe Stiernon

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