CAPPELLINI & SELIO SET TO DUAL FOR WORLD TITLE!
EMIRATES TEAM LOOKING FOR REVENGE IN SHARJAH!

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates – 9th of December, 2007 – It’s not quite as dramatic as last years “dual in the sun” when Emirates Team driver Scott Gillman took on and then defeated defending World Champion Guido Cappellini of the Tamoil Team with both drivers holding down 65 points in a “all or nothing” run for the title.

This time around the smart money would be on the 9-time World Champion from Como, Italy when the 8th and final round of the 2007 U.I.M. F1 World Championship for power boating comes to the city of Sharjah just outside Dubai for the 8th annual event.

 However, let us not start putting the crown on the 48 year-old driver just yet as strange things have happened to Cappellini on his way to winning titles and his luck in Sharjah hasn’t always been the best.

When Cappellini takes to the water along the cornice he’ll be facing the longest race circuit of the season which is 2.235 kilometers around. Granted, all he has to do is finish 7th or higher.  Selio, at the same time, must win for the 2nd straight weekend to have any hope in capturing his first crown in his 10th season on the tour.

“I’m ready for the challenge,” stated Selio. “Our crew and team are just now hitting our peak and it’s the right time to have everything going as well as it is. I’ve done well here in the past with some podium performances, but this time I must win as well.”

The native of Helsinki, in the last three years in Sharjah has a 3rd in 2004, a 2nd in 2005 and a 4th last season. He has finished in the top-5 the last four years straight and has led races as well but never won. Now’s the time for him to change this story.

Cappellini at the same time has won twice since the race came to the series in 2000, taking the top spot on the podium in both 2001 and again in 2005 winning titles both years. However, all has not been a bed of roses while at the same time suffering crushing defeats in 2006 and 2004 when he failed to finish and also missed taking the flag in 2003.

The bottom line is this. Cappellini has two wins, three failures to finish and one Disqualification in six starts. Selio has two DNF’s and four straight top-5’s and two podiums in seven races. It all comes down to whom is more prepared and mentally ready to capture the crown and the world title for 2007.

Other drivers to watch are Thani Al Qamzi and Ahmed Al Hamli who both suffered crushing DNF’s last weekend at their home Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. The failure to finish hit Al Qamzi the hardest as his dreams of a title disappeared when he boat stopped having completed just 15 laps. Ahmed actually got around his teammate for a time before leaving the race scene on 24th tour while young teammate Majeed Al Mansoori made it a clean sweep of misery for the team when he stopped on the 29th lap.

Thani won from the pole last year for his first career victory and he would like to do it again this year as well. He had a surprising podium back in 2001 and has finished 5 of the 7 events.

Second year driver Jonas Andersson of the F1 Team Sweden effort is rediscovering himself once again by taking a podium 3rd place finish in Abu Dhabi finishing an event for the first time since his 3rd at the Grand Prix of France last May. He had a great run at his first race in Sharjah with a 3rd place finish after qualifying a fine 5th off the dock. He’ll be hoping to do it again.

Francesco Cantando has found new life in his Singha F1 Racing Team taking 5th in Abu Dhabi and has done well in Sharjah in the past with a win, a second and a third along with last years 11th place when finishing.

 Another Swedish driver Pierre Lundin of the Comparato Racing Team almost reached the top-3 for the third straight time by grabbing a 4th place in Abu Dhabi and now sits solidly in 4th place in the championship in his comeback season.

All in all, the drama at the Grand Prix of Sharjah is going to be heating up to a fever pitch when the boats hit the water for qualifying day on the 13th of December and then on Friday, December 14th the season’s drivers championship will be decided on the longest racing circuit on the calendar. Who will win? We will soon know in less than 6 days time in a season that has continued to surprise since the opening lap back in Portugal in the month of May……. Stay tuned.

For additional information, interviews or video footage please contact:

Steve Michael Reporting - Philippe Stiernon F1 Press Officer

Photos: http://www.f1boatphotos.com