IT'S "NAIL BITING" TIME AS SERIES HEADS TO THE EMIRATES TO DETERMINE TITLE!
CAPPELLINI, GILLMAN & CANTANDO IN CHASE!!

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates: (22nd of November) - It all comes down to this; points leader and current World Champion Guido Cappellini, who has an 18 point lead in the 2003 points chase for the World Title, needs to only keep finishing races and reach the podium to take home his 8th championship in 11 years on the U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating.

The lead driver of the Zepter Team has won twice and finished runner-up three times in 6 races this season but hasn't won since the first week of July. Cappellini has 85 points which is a good cushion, but he also needs to have mistake free races and finish well in the final two events of the year beginning with the Grand Prix of Sharjah on the 5th of December followed up by the season finale in Abu Dhabi on the 12th of December to capture another title.

The native of Como, Italy, who has stated 10 World Titles is his ultimate goal before he retires, must shake off a history of strange finishes in the past 11 starts in the Emirates. True, Cappellini has won 5 of his 8 titles in Abu Dhabi which has become the cornerstone and the moniker as the "City where champions are made." Guido has won in Abu Dhabi three times, while at the same time has finished outside the top 5 six different times including dropping out last year because of lack of visibility.

In Sharjah, Cappellini locked up his 2001 title with a win and then was disqualified last year loosing his way in trying to find the first turn of the event and causing a hazard to the rest of the field. He as one win in one finish in his three starts in the Khalid Lagoon.

The driver Cappellini has to be fearing most is the American star Scott Gillman who reemergence as a winner in the series is complete coming off the last two victories at the Grand Prix's of Malaysia and Singapore and has moved into 2nd in the championship race with 67 points. The 2-time World Champ must keep winning in order to take his third title while hoping something goes wrong with Cappellini.

In Sharjah, Gillman has finished runner-up twice in 2000 and 2001 while taking 4th a season ago after starting a career low 11th. A lot of attention along with added pressure will be put on the Emirates Team leader racing at back to back home Grand Prix events.

In Abu Dhabi, the native of Los Angeles, California has struggled. He won at his attempt during his championship season of 1997, but since then has just a 3rd in 2000 to show for all his hard work. His 7th a year ago was his worst finish of his career during a race shortened event.

Another Italian Francesco Cantando is in 3rd place in the world title run and is further back with 60 points with a pair of wins at the Grand Prix's of Finland and Germany this year. He was tied with Cappellini at one point at the season half-way mark but has picked up just 5 points in the last two races and has slipped from 1st to 3rd in the championship hunt.

The native of Milan won the opening event in Sharjah back in 2000 but has failed to finish the last two years including crashing out at the first corner of the opening lap in 2001 while in the lead for the World Championship. The lead driver of the Singha Team has a better record in Abu Dhabi with back to back wins in 2000 and 2001 along with a pair of 2nd places in 2002 and 1997. It's simple for Francesco, just win and pray that things fall apart for Cappellini and Gillman in order to win his first ever title.

Last years Grand Prix of Sharjah winner Massimo Roggiero would be happy with a top-10 finish since he is still looking for his first points of the season. A far cry from a two time winner of a year ago and a driver who finished 3rd in the championship. Can you say "slump" for the northern Italian driver. Roggiero also has a pair of 4th's at the Khalid Lagoon. In Abu Dhabi, the driver for the Sea Quest Team has 4 podium finishes with a pair of 2nd's in 1998 & 1999 along with thirds in 1995 and 1997.

Young Emirates Team driver Thani Al Qamzi 5th in the World Championship with 34 points this season including 27 in his last 3 races is hoping to do well at his home Grand Prix's. A year ago he finished 10th in Sharjah and 12th in Abu Dhabi after getting his first ever podium with a well earned 3rd in 2001 in Sharjah. This year's Presidents Cup champ would love to get back on the podium again this year.

Italian Fabio Comparato 4th in the title run this season with 41 points is looking for his first ever podium in the beautiful land on the edge of the Arabian Sea. His 2000 crash almost forced him to retire from racing as he rehabilitated all off-season after Sharjah. After missing the 2001 races he crashed out in Sharjah and finished 6th in Abu Dhabi a year ago.

Saudi driver Laith Pharaon will be forced to sit out the event in Sharjah after receiving his 3rd yellow card and will be allowed back for Abu Dhabi where he won a year ago. The Team Green driver was 3rd in 2001 and sits 6th in the title chase.

 Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne is back with renewed vigor finishing 3rd in Singapore and now 7th in the title race with 31 points. He had a shot at the title in 2001 until dropping out on the final lap of the Sharjah event and taking 2nd in Abu Dhabi a week later. Last year the driver of the Ligier Sports Team had a pair of 3rd's at both events and finished the season strong with a 4th in the title race in 2002.

The 4th annual Grand Prix of Sharjah and the 12th Annual Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi will be back to back long, fast and challenging courses that will once again test driver and equipment to the maximum. The survivors of these two events will help determine the 2003 U.I.M. F1 World Champion and once that will be well deserved.