GILLMAN & DAC TAKE WIN IN LAS VEGAS!
60 DAYS FROM F1 WORLD TITLE FINALE IN ABU DHABI!
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (October 4, 1998)
- Defending World Champion Scott Gillman of Basalt, Colorado USA,
returned to his roots last weekend and won the final race of the
U.S. PROP F1 Tour event on Lake Mead near Las Vegas, Nevada, marking
his first win in 2 years on the U.S. tour, but also giving Italian
racer/boat builder Guido Cappellini of Como, Italy his first ever
win in the United States with his boat hull.
Gillman, a 3-time Champion on the U.S. tour, wasnít even
sure he would get a chance to run in the final event, after crashing
his new DAC hull during Friday's practice. The accident was violent
enough to knock out the 38 year-old driver for over 2 minutes, sending
him to the hospital with chest and back pains. He got a break the
next day when wind conditions made it impossible for anyone to race
on Saturday and giving him a day of much needed rest.
On Sunday, it was all Gillman and his DAC, as he won the heat race
putting him on the pole for the 30-lap final. From there the American
driver and Italian boat performed perfectly as Gillman easily walked
away with the victory, his first of 1998 in the US.
A year ago, the idea of a Gillman/Cappellini working relationship
would have seemed impossible, as both were imbroiled in a battle
for the World Championship on the U.I.M. F1 Pro Tour. Gillman eventually
won, taking 5 races and stopping the brilliant Italianís
4 year reign as #1 driver in the World. But midway through the 1998
season, Gillman and Cappellini got together with Gillman receiving
2 of the DAC hulls, taking one to America while the other has raced
on the World Tour since July in Corfu, Greece. At the same time
Scott took over the Sales Directorís position for the DAC
hull in North America.
Gillmanís victory may sell some boats for the DAC company,
as the North American tour has been dominated for over a decade
by the Seebold hull built by the Seebold family in St. Louis, Missouri.
Last season the Seebold boat under Gillmanís touliage won
the World Constructorís championship and will do the same
this year on the US tour with Tim Seebold capturing his first US
title. Gillmanís victory on Lake Mead may change the face
of racing in the US in the next few years as more and more people
think about going with a carbon fiber hull.
As the native of Los Angeles, California winds down his celebration
after his Las Vegas win, he now must focus his attention to a bigger
job at hand, winning the U.I.M. World Title for another year. It
will be tough task for him, needing a little luck in the process,
as Cappellini is in perfect position to capture his 5th World Title
in 6 years, leading Welshman Jonathan Jones of the Dragon Racing
Team by 8 points, while Gillman sits further back 14 points away
in 3rd.
The 9th and final round of the U.I.M. F1 World Championship will
take place in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates the first week
of December and what should be a tension filled, exciting conclusion
to a wonderfully exciting season were 5 different drivers, including
3 first time winners, have taken the first 8 events of the campaign.
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