CAPPELLINI STOPS GILLMAN PROGRESS IN BELGIUM!
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MAY 14th, Antwerp, Belgium — Italian driver Guido Cappellini of the DAC Racing team must of felt he had a pack of hounds chasing him around the giant 2.7 kilometer, 8 turn course of the Versatel Grand Prix of Belgium. But, when it was over, it was another win for the native of Como, Italy as he won for the 30th time in his coveted career, holding off American Scott Gillman in the 2nd round for the U.I.M. F1 World Championship for powerboating.

The wide stretch of the Schelde River which it nitorious for its strong current, turned out to be tame by racetime and the spectators got a great battle for the top 5 positions for the full 35 lap event. Off the start, Cappellini held off his teammate Fabio Comparato in the fellow DAC/Mercury 2.5-liter machine with Jonathan Jones charging hard in 3rd the the Burgess OMC powered 3-liter boat. As Cappellini led from the point the battle for 2nd soon heated up as Jones worked his way around Comparto and took chase of the 5-time World Champion. Jones' charge only lasted 6 laps before he had to retire. Scoring no points for the 2nd straight race.

Young Italian star Francesco Cantando took up the battle, now past Comparato into 2nd. Cappellini held his line while Cantando challenged Cappelini for the 2nd straight race. This lasted for the first third of the race until the American Gillman, starting in 5th had moved past Comparato and now moved past Comparato in 2nd. The native of Colorado knew he needed to work gingerly since having but a new engine on the run and finishing it just moments before the start of the parade lap. It became a classic match-up, the one the fans have come to expect for the past 2 years with only Cappellini and Gillman finding a way to the checkered flag.

With Gillman getting as close as 3 boat lengths, his chance for victory was erased when with 2 laps to go he flew over Cappellini's line, spun and lost not only 5 seconds but 2nd, dropping to 4th. Not giving up, Gillman charged his way again past Comparato and Cantando to finish 1.75 seconds behind the defending champion Cappellini who has now led every lap of the season so far in his 2.5 Mercury powered DAC hull.

But the battle for the top 4 wasn't the only thing that kept the crowd excited. The charging ride of Rudy Mihaldenecz, the multi-time F3 champion who came from the back of the field in a borrowed boat only to drop out 12 laps into the event. While Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne battled up to 5th until leaving the race 24 laps.

Other noteable happenings in the event saw Italian Massimo Roggiero pushing forward and moving to within 6 seconds of leader Cappellini at the close of the event in 5th, only to spin out in the final 2 laps losing his shot to challenge Comparato and Cantando for the podium and this in a Mercury 2-liter engine! Roggiero, finished a fine 5th and was showered with prase after his great run.

Another suprising run came from a pilot and boat combination that could make big noises at the next race in Hungary. Argentinia driver Carlos Maidana didn't get into the water until race time all weekend with his newly arrived Veldon hull from Ben Robertson in the USA. The well used machine proved it's fast speed in combination with the OMC 3-lter engine as Maidana after some tething problems early in the race, came out of the pits and went out and set fastest lap by better than a second over Cappellini's previous effort. Maidana is still learning how to drive this new arrival.

Portugal native Duarte Benavente who was 4th in the opening round in Portimao was 6th in a solid run. Italian veteran Franco Leidi finished 7th for the 2nd straight race, tieing his best finish in the last 2 seasons. U.A.E. pilot, rookie Awad Al Qubaisi in the Abu Dhabi Tourism DAC/Mercury 2-liter was in the points for the 2nd straight race with an 8th place.

Rookie Brazilian Paul Gaiser in his Petrobras DAC/Mercury 2-liter was 9th for the 2nd event, whilenewcomer Mark Sheperd of South Africa was running solidly until dropping out after 21 laps. Native son Danny Bertels who had returned to F1 for the first time in over 4 years, qualified in the top 10 and was dissapointed that his boat didn't last more than 3 laps. Sami Selio and Salem al Khattal didn't get a chance to start the event.

Round 3 of the U.I.M. F1 World Championship tour moves on to Dunaujvaros, Hungary next weekend and the quest of the World Title heats up with Cappellini winning the first 2 events, but OMC pilots fast closing in on the Italian's speed and 2 pin racing returns for the next 2 rounds. Stay tuned, the show only gets better.