UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship – Team Abu Dhabi confirmed
by Nigel Quilter on 8 Mar 2011
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Class 1 World Powerboat Championship
http://www.class-1.com
UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship - The Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) has finalised their 2011 line-up, confirming that American throttleman John Tomlinson will partner Rashed Al Tayer in Team Abu Dhabi.
Tomlinson, a five-times race winner from only 14 starts in what he has described as the ‘premier class’ in powerboat racing, won the Class 1 World and European titles in 1997 with Laith Pharaon and made his Class 1 comeback alongside Al Tayer at the Italian Grand Prix in Stresa last year. 'I am happy to be back in the boat and teaming-up with Rashed again. I think he is an excellent driver and we will continue get better as we get more time in the boat,' said Tomlinson. 'I do not know exactly how much time we will have to test before the season starts, but hopefully in the next month we can get some testing in as we are waiting for propellers to be made.
[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] 'Figuring out which propellers to run with the new rule changes will be what every team is going to be doing. The rpm limitations will be the challenge, to figure out what gets us around the track the quickest. I think we have a good boat and hope to be very competitive.'
The American-Emirati duo resumes a partnership that made an immediate impact, posting a hat-trick of top-three qualifying times in the Edox Pole Position, and winning race 1 of the team’s home Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi in November.
A second podium in Dubai and two other top six finishes saw them end the season as runners-up in the Middle East Championship and sixth in the World Championship standings from just six starts.
The team has confirmed they will run the same Victory boat, V12 engine package that they ran last season.
