CAPPELLLI CAPTURES POLE IN HUNGARY!
GILLMAN'S CHARGE ENDS WITH ENGINE FAILURE!

DUNAUJVAROS, HUNGARY (May 20th) - World Champion Guido Cappellini of Como, Italy took his first pole position in over 5 years here on the Danube and hopes he can continue his luck on the water tomorrow for the 12th Annual Dunaferr Grand Prix of Hungary, the 3rd Round of the U.I.M. F1 World Championship for powerboating.

Cappellini, who was not only battling the conditions with heavy winds and cool weather that later turned to rain, had to also hold off 2 time pole sitter Scott Gillman of Basalt, Colorado who had taken the fastest time on the 4th lap of the 2nd qualifying session with a 36.91 flyer and a speed of 156.55 kph.

Gillman's luck ran out when his Abu Dhabi Tourism DAC/Mercury 2.5 liter engine let go just 4 laps into the session. This opened the door for Cappellini to go to work, and to work he did, setting fastest time with a 36.86 and later his pole sitting 36.64 time in the final minute of the 2nd session in his Laserline/Castrol DAC/Mercury 2.5 liter machine for a speed of 157.20 kph.

Young Italian Francesco Cantando was 3rd quickest in the Singha Beer DAC/Mercury 2.5 liter boat with a 38.07 time set in the shootout. Cantando is 2nd in the world title chase with 27 points. Another Italian, Massimo Roggiero was the pilot who may have worked the hardest, getting 4th position in just a 2 liter engine in his Petrobras DAC/Mercury with a 38.07 second effort and a speed of 151.30 kph.

Fabio Camparato, last years pole sitter, was 5th quickest, also in a 2 liter engine with a 38.12 effort and a speed of 151.10 kph in his Laserline/Castrol DAC/Mercury machine. Rounding out the top 10 was Portugal's Duarte Benevente in the Singha Beer DAC/Mercury 2.5 liter with a 150.23 kph speed in 6th.

Native son and local hero Rudy Mihaldinecz in the Dunaferr/Waircom Seebold/Mercury 2.0 liter at 146.26 kph in 7th. Four time World Champion Jonathan Jones was 8th quickest and the fastest OMC machine in his Fuchs/Eurobet Burgess/OMC 3 liter with a lap of 39.49 seconds. Argentina driver Carlos Maidana in the Texaco Veldon/OMC 3 liter was 9th at 142.68 kph. And rounding out the top 10 was France's Philippe Dessertenne in the Fuchs/Eurobet DAC/OMC 3 liter with a time of 40.48 seconds and a speed of 142.29 kph. Drivers from 8 different nations are expected to take the green lights on the 2 pin 1.6 kilometer course at 12.15 local time and (6.15 Eastern Daylight Time) in North America.

The race can be seen on European and Asian Broadcast Union as well as worldwide on the live web streaming on the internet by going to www.f1boat.com and following the directions to watch the event. It will also be archived so you will be able to watch it at a later time if necessary up to 40 days after the race.