Italian ace Guido Cappellini, the seven-time world Formula I champion, has admitted defeat following his crash in the Malaysian Grand Prix last month.
Italian ace Guido Cappellini, the seven-time world Formula I champion, has admitted defeat following his crash in the Malaysian Grand Prix last month.
Although highly favoured to win his hopes were dashed in the early stages when he collided with Australian driver, Bob Trask.
Both were traveling at over 200kmph at the time of impact causing the boats to fly through the air in a spectacular double flip before smashing back into the water – amazingly almost intact. In those split seconds Cappellini’s chances of an eighth world championship were shattered!
“This has not been my lucky year and I have yet to win in Malaysia,” lamented Cappellini. “But I am not giving up hope and will continue to race for first place in the final two rounds in Korea and UAE”
Although fellow Italian Fabio Comparato won the race and scored 20 points he remains well down the overall table without any hope of the championship despite any success in the remaining two rounds. But points leader, Scott Gillman of the United States, was still impressed.
“It was definitely Comparato’s race,” said Gillman. “We had a few problems with our boat but I’m delighted to have finished third. My hopes for the Championship are now looking good.”
With a second place finish, Cantando has put himself strongly back in World Championship contention being just 19 points behind Scott Gillman. He will need to win the final two rounds however to unseat the American who currently holds a 29 point lead ahead of Italian Francesco Cantando.
Final success will give Gillman his third career world Formula I title while seeing Cappellini, who has been the constant champion, apart from the 2000 season, since 1996, finishing runner-up.
