CAPPELLINI SAVES BEST FOR LAST IN SHOOTOUT !
ROGGIERO & SELIO IN TOP 3 FOR PORTUGESE GRAND PRIX !

PORTIMAO, PORTUGAL (3RD  MAY) - Italian Guido Cappellini continued his great run of success on the waters inside the city of Portimao, Portugal and will lead the field of 21 drivers for the 5TH  Annual Grand Prix of Portugal on the U.I.M. F1 World Championship tour.

Cappellini, who led the time sheets all day long, was pushed hard by American Scott Gillman, who has had two previous poles including last year, only to have problems with his fuel system and not running in the final ñshootoutî for the pole.

The native of Como, Italy, Cappellini gained his 48th career pole position and his 3rd in 5 previous races here in the Algarve on Portugal's south coast. His modified DAC hulled 2.5 litre Mercury powered boat averaged 152.16 kph around the 1.8 kilometer course. He is hoping for his 5th straight win in as many races here in Portimao.

Starting next to Cappellini is another Italian and Guido's last years temmate on the Zepter Team Massimo Roggiero who missed the top sport by 5/100's of a second with a time of 42.40 and a speed of 151.98 kph.

Roggiero was pleased with his performance with his new team and looks to win for his 2nd time in his last 3 races carrying over from last season. Roggiero will be driving the Baba Seaquest Racing DAC hull.

Starting 3th will be the Johnson powered V-6 engine of Velden Racing's Sami Selio of Finland who will start in his career best place at 149.97 kph on a time of 43.22 lap. The native of Helsinki finished a career tying 2nd a year ago and looks for his first spot on the top rung of the podium with a win here in Portugal.

Saudi Arabian driver Laith Pharaon will begin the event from the 4th position after a time of 43.50 improving by a second and one-half over his 2nd qualifying session time of 44.90, Pharaon feels this is his season to push for his first world title in F1 after a very successful offshore career.

Portuguese favorite son Duarte Benavente will start 5th hoping to reach the podium for the first time this season and only his 2nd in his career after doing a 43.93.

After a disappointed Scott Gillman of the Emirates Team starting 6th, Swedish driver Pierre Lundin will start a strong 7th in the Corona Extra Mulgaard hull, while another disappointed pilot Italian Francesco Cantando missed a rate shootout in 8th after a 45.42.

Italian Fabio Comparato, who was 2nd off the dock in 2001 will start 9th in his new boat while Finnish driver Michael Weckstrom will leave the dock in 10th with a 46.08 lap and a speed of 139.84 kph.

The 5th Annual Grand Prix of Portugal will start at 17:00 local (16:00 GMT) time and will be run for 45 minutes on the inner harbour of the beautiful city of Portimao on Portugal's southern Algarve coast. The opening round of the 2003 U.I.M. F1 World Championship for powerboating.