CANTANDO WINS PROTEST FILLED GRAND PRIX !

HELSINKI, Finland : (15th of June) - Italian Francesco Cantando took his first win of the season and his 8th in his career in a wild day of racing that saw 7 different drivers penalized for various UIM violations and a 1.1 second win by Guido Cappellini was taken away at the Grand Prix of Finland, the 2nd Round of the UIM F1 World Championship for powerboating.

The trobles began at the start as both pole sitter Cappellini and 2nd starting Scott Gillman of the Emirates Team were called for jumping the lights and docked a lap. Gillman, who ran a strong race and finished 1.1 seconds back to Cappellini at the finish lost his spot as well and was not allowed on the podium at the finish of the day.

Cantando, who had his Singha Beer F1 Racing machine in first at the half way mark after passing first Gillman and then Cappellini for the lead, lost his edge when his spark plug broke and his boat started taking on water after he and Cappellini got together as he worked his way around the current World Champion at the north end of the course in turn 2. Cantando thought he was going to be 3rd at the end of the afternoon but ended up first and now is in at least a tie for 1st in the championship.

Cantando, moved to the top joined by the Emirates Thani Al Qamzi who had a great afternoon starting well from 15th to 8th at the start and at one time 2nd on the podium. Last years winning driver at the Grand Prix of Finland was Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne and he thought he had reached it again finishing 3rd at the time of celebrations on the podium later to have his results changed.

Currently, as it stands, Cappellini, Gillman and Laith Pharaon of Saudi Arabia were all docked a lap for jumping the start. Also, Dessertenne, Al Qamzy, Swedish driver Pierre Lundin and Russian pilot Stanislov Kourtsenovsky we docked a lap for remaining out of position on the yellow flag restart.

At least 5 different protests are holding up the official results to declare the in standing of the Grand Prix of Finland.

The 3rd round of the UIM F1 World Championship will be held in Cagliari, Sardinia the first weekend of July for the Grand Prix of the Mediterranean.