UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series - Team Westerlund returns

by Karien Jonckheere on 8 Dec 2013 UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series 2013 seventh and final round is being held from December 12th to 14th. The last time Team Westerlund left Dubai after the third round of the Series in March, it was with the winners’ spoils.

The Swedish outfit took advantage of Series leaders Fazza’s mechanical problems to speed past and take their first ever XCAT victory on that occasion. But that was the last time they were on the podium, having left the last three races empty handed, apart from a second spot in the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run in Stresa, Italy.

Now they’re hoping Dubai will serve up some rough conditions when the final round of the Series takes place at DIMC.

'It feels great to be back in Dubai where I did my first XCAT race and my XCAT career started. Hopefully there will be windy conditions and strong waves like the last race in Dubai because there I'm really strong,' said Joakim Kumlin, who was racing with Daniel Svenson the last time he was in Dubai but will share the boat with F2 star Erik Stark this weekend.

The duo has been racing together since the European Grand Prix in Arona, Italy and as Kumlin says: 'Me and Erik work really well together in the boat so that’s definitely a yes – we’ll be racing together again.

'A flat water race can be hard to be number one, but with rough conditions, we can push the boat to the max and up to the podium.'

Team Westerlund have finished in fifth sport in the last two races (in Ningbo, China and Arona, Italy) and failed to finish in Stresa, Italy after suffering a gearbox problem. Asked what it will take to change those fortunes, Kumiln reckoned: 'We need to be top four in the race for pole position and then need a great start in the race, with those rough conditions.'

With three boats still vying for overall Series victory, this race will decide the 2013 Championship.