Italian Guido Cappellini captured his 46th career win at the 6th Annual Grand Prix of the Mediterranean on July 6
Italian Guido Cappellini captured his 46th career win at the 6th Annual Grand Prix of the Mediterranean on July 6. The Italian had a trouble-free race round the 2.3 kilometer 8-turn course to win by over 31 seconds and now holds the World Championship lead with a score of 55 points.
Although slow at the start Cappellini still managed to lead into the first turn moving ahead of Francesco Cantando lying second and had pulled out a ten boat lead by the end of the first lap.
Cantando, level on points with Cappellini before the event, developed a problem when his propeller blade disintegrated forcing him to slow before finally retiring on the 30th lap. A heart breaking development considering he was challenging Cappellini’s points score earlier in the season but is now 20 points astern.
Saudi Arabian driver Laith Pharaon held third slot from the start but although caught among the back-markers still reached the podium for the first time this season and now lies sixth on the table with 21 points.
Pharaon further proved his point on the 33rd lap when he set the fastest lap of the day with a time 56.14 seconds. He now heads off for the fourth round in Germany knowing he has a winning chance.
American Scott Gillman pushed hard moving from seventh to fourth on the first lap eventually passing Pharaon and Cantando to finish second. It was the sixth time in six races in Sardinia that Gillman has been on the podium which is a record. He obviously now has high hopes of winning his third World Title after two straight podium finishes and a score of 27 points.
Italian Fabio Comparato had a solid performance after moving up from eighth at the start to finish a fine fourth and now lies fourth in the championship with 25 points. Portuguese driver Duarte Benavente was in the top five for a third time after a disappointing start. He finished with a score of 23 points and lies fifth in the battle for the title.
Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne pushed hard all day from 17th on the pole to eventually finish seventh. England’s Andy Elliott began 13th, pushed hard and finally finished seventh to secure his best result of the season.
The next round will be the Grand Prix of Germany in Stralsund during the first week of August.
