Ali Nasser and Ali Al Qama from the UAE produced an outstanding performance on August 12 to win the Color Line Scandinavian Grand Prix in Oslo.
Ali Nasser and Ali Al Qama from the UAE produced an outstanding performance on August 12 to win the Color Line Scandinavian Grand Prix in Oslo. Driving Victory 1 (Victory/Lamborghini), by winning this sixth round of the world Class I (16 litre) series the pair also collected the European Class I title for a third consecutive year.
“I am the happiest man in the world today. To win the title again is a great feeling – I am a very lucky man.” said Ali Nasser. It was a faultless display by Nasser and Al Qama who led the race from a start-to-finish ahead of rivals Norwegian Bjorn Gjelsten and Britain’s Steve Curtis in Spirit of Norway (Tencara/Lamborghini) and UAE team mates Saeed Al Tayer and Mohammed Al Marri driving Victory 7 (Victory/Lamborghini).
The newly crowned European Champions, who completed the 15-lap, 121.65Nm course in 1hr 6mins 55secs at an average speed of 125.52mph, set the pace throughout. But it was the manner of the win that impressed, with the Victory pair locked in a titanic with Spirit of Norway, who despite all their efforts were unable to match the overall performance of Victory 1.
As Nasser celebrated his and the Victory Team’s third consecutive European crown, Saeed Al Tayer and Mohammed Al Marri were left to reflect on their third placed finish and the fact their team mates now lead them in the overall title race by one point.
Splitting the Victory boats in second place, Bjorn Gjelsten and Steve Curtis tried everything they could, but failed by the smallest of margins to take the win they needed to keep in reach of the overall title.
“It was very tight,” said Curtis. “We didn’t get a good start. Victory 1 did far better and whoever gets to the first bend has the advantage. Once or twice we came very close on the turns and if we had managed to get through I’m sure we could have held onto the lead. Quite simply we just couldn’t get past them We’re looking forward to Beirut as it might be a bit bumpy and we can probably have some fun.”
Completing the top six, Erik Kirkedelen and Massimo Lippi in Jolly Motor (Tencara/Lamborghini) came home in fourth place with Andeas Ugland aboard Jotun (Tencara/ Seatek) finishing fifth ahead of Damas (Victory/Lamborghini).
For Italian Edoardo Polli in Highlander (Victory/Seatek) and Matteo Nicolini and Ken Thorne driving World of Cars (Nicolini/Seatek), it was a miserable day with World of Cars failing to start after having trouble with a broken fuel pump with Polli pulling out on the fifth lap. But for Dubai’s finest it was a day of celebrations as they added yet another title to an impressive and growing list. The team can now boast a hat trick of European Championships as they strive to add a sixth World title to their honours board. The fleet next take to the waters in Dbya, Beirut on September 30 for the seventh round when the championship heads to the Middle-East for the final three races.
World Class I (16-litre) Offshore Championship series
Round six: Color Line Scandinavian Grand Prix
Results1. Victory 1 – A Nasser/A Al Qama (UAE) 20pts2. Spirit of Norway – B Gjelsten/S Curtis (Nor/GB) 15pts3. Victory 7 – S Al Tayer/ Al Marri (UAE) 12ptsWorld Championship positions after six rounds:1. A Nasser/A Al Qama – 85 pts2. S Al Tayer/M Al Marri – 84pts3. E Kirkedelen/M.Lippi – 57pts4. B Gjelsten/S Curtis – 47pts5=. K Tzanov/V Polli 28pts5=. A Ugland/J Hillestad 28pts
