GILLMAN TAKES 2 ND VICTORY OF `98 IN HUNGARY!
JONES 2ND MOVES HIM INTO CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD!

Dunaujvaros, Hungary (August 9 th)- Defending World Champion Scott Gillman of Basalt, Colorado dominated the field of 19 drivers for 63 laps and snapped a 4 race victory drought by winning the Grand Prix of Hungary during the 7 th round on the U.I.M. F1 World Championship tour on the historic Danube river.

Gillman, who started on the pole, entered the race 13 points back of leader Guido Cappellini of Como, Italy. The 3-time U.S.A. champion needed a break, knowing he had to finish ahead of the Italian for a chance at repeating as World Champion. The native of Los Angeles, took control early, moved ahead of the rest of field and actually lapped his rival Cappellini before slowing down, saving his equipment at the end to secure the victory. Gillman's win moves him to within 5 points of the Championship lead with 67.

Cappellini, had a terrible start and trailed the field early on before beginning his characteristic charge from the back. Cappellini got as far as 4 th finishing with 9 points in the World Championship and now sits in 2 nd place in the overall title race with 69 points.

Jonathan Jones, the 3-time World Champion from Wales, did what he had to do, stay out of trouble, set a good pace and finish in the top 3. He did just that, finishing 8 seconds from Gillman at the end not knowing that if he had pushed a little harder he may have caught the American since Gillman had lost one of his four propeller blades with 5 laps to go and limped to the finish. Jones with his 4 th runner-up placement of the season now has moved into first place in the World Championship with 72 points.

Italian Francesco Cantando, after encountering all sorts of engine problems during the weekend, held off a charging Cappellini in a stunning display of driving, reaching the podium for the 2 nd time this season while holding down 5 th place in the World Championship title chase with 44 points.

Rookie Sami Selio of Finland continued to show why he should be voted Rookie-of-year by charging from 11 th to finish 5 th . His teammate, Pertti Leppala continued his misery of a forgetable season by charging to the 3 way battle for 1 st on the opening lap, only to drop out on lap 3 because of trim problems.

Argentina speedster Carlos Maidana, started back in 16 th and pushed towards the front, finishing 6 th and picking up points for his 2 nd straight race. Norweigan driver Frode Sundsdal got his first F1 points ever with a fine 7 th place his best in his rookie season.

Italian Franco Leidi's 8 th was the 3 rd time in the points for him in his Waircom DAC, while Russian pilot Andrey Bernitsine the 2 nd member of the Texaco team with Maidana had his best result ever with a 9th.

Rounding out the top 10 was a struggling Italian Cipriano Lambri slowing early, stopping and re-entering the race to finish 19 laps behind the winner. The grueling event saw only 9 boats running at the end and one of the most spectacular exits came from Swedish pilot Goran Karlof running in the top 5, had his boat catch on fire and coming to a stop on the 35th lap. He abandoned ship and was fine, but not the boat which will need some work before the next round.

The next round of the 1998 U.I.M. F1 World Championship tour of powerboating will be in 2 weeks on the 23rd of August at Gorky Park in Moscow, Russia.

With just 3 rounds left and 3 drivers within 5 points of the World Championship lead, 1998 is turning out to be the most competitive year in the last 5 seasons. We may not know who will be crowned with the World Title until the final stop in Abu Dhabi in December!