CAPPELLINI WINS AND CLOSES IN ON CHAMPIONSHIP!
SAME OLD STORY; GILLMAN LEADS, CAPPELLINI WINS!

DOHA, Qatar – 19th November, 2005 – Before the 2005 U.I.M. F1 World Championship season 8-time World Champion Guido Cappellini of Como, Italy announced that he was switching back to his luck number. Since he didn't win the title in 2004 and had only one win in the past season and one-half maybe this would change his luck. Well number #43 worked again as the 47 year-old picked up his 49th career victory and edged his way closer to a 9th world title by winning the 1st Annual Grand Prix of Qatar on Doha Bay on a rough 2.15 circuit in downtown Doha, Qatar.

The race started with the same as every event so far in 2005 with Emirates driver Scott Gillman showing that he remains the fastest competitor in the series when the race begins as he led from the pole and held a comfortable margin until he had engine problems and unexpectedly dropped out on the 38th of 50 tours of the event. Cappellini who was then in third passed Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne in the Ligier Sports DAC and cruised home the final 12 laps to pick up his third win in four starts with hopes of claiming his 9th title in the season's next event in two weekends time at the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.

"We had a smart plan today and it paid off for us," stated Cappellini. "We now feel confident that if we do the right things we can finish this season with another title in the Emirates in a few weeks time."

Cappellini now has 60 points with 40 still available with Abu Dhabi and Sharjah still to be run. Finland's Sami Selio ran a steady race today in his Baba boat and finished 3 seconds behind Dessertenne in 2nd place. The native of Helsinki now has 34.5 points and still has a shot at the title with luck. Philippe Dessertenne on the other hand with his 2nd place finish has 30 points and is still in the title chase as he tries to capture his first title.

Fabio Comparato ran a steady race to fourth as he battled with Selio, Cappellini and Dessertenne as all three chased Gillman for the first two thirds of the event. Comparato with his 4th place picked up 9 points and how has 30.5 for the season and like Selio and Dessertenne has a shot at the title.

Australian David Trask had a great day starting 10th and again driving aggressively into the top 5 for his 4th straight top 10 of the season and his best finish of the season in his XPV Racing DAC.

Massimo Roggiero of Team Green left the dock in 7th and just passed Portugal's Duarte Benavente for 6th with just a few laps remaing. Roggiero finished for the 2nd straight race in the top 10 while Benavente had his 3rd top 10 finish in four races this season.

German rookie Fabian Kalsow had his best day of his career in his rookie season driving with Cappellini on the Tamoil Team. He qualified 12th and at the start of the day and moved himself into the top 10. These 3 championship points are his first of his career.

Julius Leysen of Belgium was 9th in the Selio F1 Powerboat team moving up from 14th and taking 9th for his first 2 points as he finished his first race of the season for the 2003 rookie of the year.

Italian Marco Gambi of the Atlantic Team scored points with his teammate Benavente as his 10th gave him 1 and his first of the campaign after starting 18th.

Besides Gillman, other drivers dropping out and loosing their solid chance for the title was Singha Racing's Francesco Cantando who was pushing for the lead with Gillman when his trim failed him on the 12th lap ending his day in disappointment?

Saudi driver Laith Pharaon who started 2nd and pushed for the lead early was out on the 16th lap ending his momentum he had built up on Saturday with a fine qualifying effort. Rolf Sunde of Norway started 22nd and was up to 8th when he barrel rolled in the 2nd corner at half distance and Max Moreschi was having a fine day in the 2nd Singha boat moving from 15th to 7th before coming to an end with a mechanical.

For additional information, interviews or video footage please contact:

Philippe Stiernon
Press Officer
Philippe@f1boat.com