The largest number of teams seen for more than a decade are expected to gather for the final two rounds of the 2002 UIM Formula One championship in Sharjah on December 13
The largest number of teams seen for more than a decade are expected to gather for the final two rounds of the 2002 UIM Formula One championship in Sharjah on December 13 and Abu Dhabi seven days later.
The 2002 campaign has already crowned its champion with Italian Guido Cappellini taking his seventh title after winning five of the eight rounds held so far. However, the pressure to finish ‘runner-up’ to Cappellini is heating up with five drivers still in with a chance. As the series heads for the Emirates, Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne currently lies second on the table with 55 points on the strength of winning the Finnish Grand Prix plus two placings.
Saudi Arabian driver, Laith Pharaon, lays third one behind Dessertenne with three-thirds and two second placings. In fourth slot is American Scott Gillman, who won his second World Championship in the Emirates back in 2000. He has four thirds plus a second placing in the Hungarian Grand Prix. The fifth and final driver in contention is Italian Massimo Roggiero who won the Grand Prix of Malaysia and finished third in Finland.
This battle has been season long between all five and it hasn’t lessened during the three-month lay-off since the Grand Prix of Ireland.
The record entry list is also expected include three new drivers highlighting an ever-growing interest in the series. Frenchman Philippe Chiappe will join the Charente Maritime Team alongside fellow countryman Philippe Dessertenne. The Mare Magnum team will have Italian Luigi Roberto who until now competed in F2000 but has eyes set on Formula I in 2003. The final newcomer will be Austrian Bob Trask.
