CAPPELLINI TAKES POLE IN "MUST WIN" RACE!
GILLMAN HAPPY STARTING IN 3RD; JONES 2ND!

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: (23RD NOVEMBER) — Defending World Champion Guido Cappellini of Como, Italy did what was needed, put himself squarely on the pole and a shot at the title at the final round of the U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating at the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi in the U.A.E.

Cappellini, coming off a suspension of two races by the U.I.M., cruised to his pole with a lap of 159.14 kph around the 5-turn 2 kilometer course in the inner harbor of Abu Dhabi just on the edge of the Arabian Gulf. Cappellini, who sits with 6 wins and 120 points on the season, is 11 points back of American Scott Gillman in his Emirates/DAC machine with a time of 55.31 and a speed of 153.93 kph. "I wasn’t going to get into an all out battle with Guido for the pole today," stated the 1997 World Champion. "My goal is the World Championship and hopefully I will be able to do this right from the position I’m in right now."

Gillman, as well as Cappellini, hope to do what they couldn’t due in 1998, take the title on the very last race of the season in Abu Dhabi, where they had the race in their pockets until dropping out and giving Jonathan Jones the win with the Welshman getting the win and his 4th title.

The native of Cardigan, Wales will start 2nd off the dock tomorrow, giving Guido a battle for the top spot in his Fuchs/Eurobet Burgess OMC 3-litre machine with a time of 158.51 kph. Jones has his boat running at a quick pace and for the 2nd time in two weeks has put himself in the runner-up spot on the grid. Jones, who has won here twice since 1995 is hoping to make it a hat-trick and throw even more suspense into the title battle tomorrow as he ran for a time of 53.71 and a speed of 158.51 kph.

The third member of the trio who still has a shot for the world title is a very unhappy young Italian from Milan, Francesco Cantando, who had a 3rd quick time thrown out in the 2nd session when he ran one more lap than was allowed and was disqualified and will start in the 16th position off the dock tomorrow. Like Cappellini, he must win, being 10 points arrears from Gillman and must charge quickly towards the front if he has any hope for the world title.

Another Italian, Massimo Roggiero in the Petrobras/OMC will start 4th off the dock with a 56.25 second lap and 151.36 kph lap. The talented head of the BABA Racing group has a "podium magnet" here in Abu Dhabi and hopes to make another statement and finish the season on a great note while sitting in 5th place in the title chase.

Suprising rookie Jari Honkala of Sweden reached the top-6 "shootout" in only in his 2nd race, running at a speed of 150.50 kph for 5th position, while Awad Al Qubaisi of Abu Dhabi in the Emirates Team reached the "shootout" for the 2nd straight race with a speed of 149.47 kph looking to reach the podium for the 2nd time this season in his home Grand Prix.

Just missing the top six is rookie of the year candidate Duarte Benavente of Portugal in the Singha Beer Burgess with a speed of 146.51 kph. Next to him on the grid will be veteran Englishman Andy Elliott in the Tetlaw Burgess with a speed of 146.51 kph. For Elliott who has sat out all but these last two races this season, he has been steady in his 2.0 litre machine. Part-time pilot and F3 veteran Ivan Torta of Italy was 9th with a speed of 146.87 kph in his Waircom/Durdox DAC, while Rio de Janero native Paul Gaiser rounded out the top 10 with a speed of 145.68 kph in his Petrobras DAC boat.

Saudi pilot and former many time offshore World Champion Laith Pharaon was running quick times early until he blew over in a spectacular fashion in the final turn and was forced to start tomorrow’s event back in the 18th position.

22 drivers from 13 nations on four different continents will take to the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi in the inner harbor of the capital city of UAE starting at 15:45 local time,11:45 GMT and 7:45 Eastern Standard Time in North America.

The battle for the World Championship shapes up to this: Cappellini must win and hopes that Gillman finishes lower than 3rd. Gillman, just needs a 3rd if Cantando and Cappellini finishes in front of him. Cantando must win and hope that Gillman finishes lower than 3rd. Three possibilities, three possible World Champions from 2 different continents all ready to settle the score on the water. What else could you ask for a world championship series.