7:32 PM Fri 15 Jul 2011 GMT
BMW Norwegian Grand Prix 2011 is round two of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship and is being held in Arendal, Norway from 15th to 17th July.
Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani and Steve Curtis marked their return to racing in Arendal, setting the pace in today's first official practice session ahead of this weekend's BMW Norwegian Grand Prix.
The Spirit of Qatar 96 pairing led the boats out for today's one and a half hour session and posted immediate notice of their intentions to take their first win together since teaming up in 2008, posting the quickest time of the afternoon, 3.49,28secs, averaging 187.84kmh around the 6.46Nm lap.
Guido Cappellini and Giampaolo Montavoci enjoyed a lively time out on the water, but looked impressive in the extensively modified DAC 40, kim.com, setting the second quickest time of the afternoon, less than a second off the pace-setters, to finish ahead of Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini in Spirit of Qatar 95, and Team Abu Dhabi's Class 1 debutant Majed Al Mansoori alongside Rased Al Tayer.
Relekta's Ugur Isik and Christian Zaborowski claimed the Norwegian bragging rights to finish the fastest of the three home teams in fifth place ahead of Fendi Racing's Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella and another Class 1 debutant, Frode Sundsdal, racing with Bjorge Jacobsen in ferskfisken.no
A frustrating afternoon saw both Welmax and Parsonage Racing fail to record times, whilst the defending World Champions Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi had to sit out the session after their boat was protested for eligibility by Spirit of Qatar 96 for infringement of rule 44.03 relating to hull dimensions, minimum weight and equipment.
An appeal jury was assembled which instructed the technical commissioners to re-measure Victory 3, which was found to be in violation of the rule and short of the minimum length of 12.19m (40ft).
In accordance with rule 14.02 the Victory Team has until one hour before tomorrow's Edox Pole Position qualifying session to fix the infringement.
First practice:
1. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) - 03.49,28
2. 74 kim.com - G Cappellini (ITA) / G Montavoci (ITA) - 03.50,06
3. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) - 03.51,45
4. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - R Al Tayer (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) - 04.01,12
5. 91 Relekta - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) - 04.05,35
6. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) - 04.07,12
7. 69 ferskfisken.no - F Sundsdal (NOR) / B Jacobsen (NOR) - 05.32,18
50 Parsonage Racing - G Manuzzi (SMR) / P V Nilsen (NOR) - dns
90 Welmax - K Selmer (NOR) / J Tandberg (NOR) - dns
3 Victory Team - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) - dns
UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship website
by UIM Class I World Powerboat Championship
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Casey, TAS
