Ahmad Al Hameli will team up with American Gary Ballough to compete in the final 2 rounds of the 2017 UIM XCAT World Championship on Friday and Saturday.

In an interesting move from the Dubai based Victory Team, the pairing will be competing in the Championship for the first time this year. It is also the first time that Victory have fielded a 2 boat team in 2017.

Ballough told the Gulf News:

It’s like a dream come true for me.
I am very excited to be in blue at last.
I’ve made some fantastic friends here, and now to race alongside one of them is an absolute pleasure for me.

He continued:

The XCATs are the best in the world and I am convinced they are the best suited substitute for Class 1 racing.
And with the UIM taking this class under its wing from this season, things have only got better.
I am looking forward to an exciting weekend of racing.

Victory Team’s number one boat crewed by Salem al Adidi and Eisa al Ali are just 11 points behind Team Australia’s Brett Luhrmann and Pål Virik Nilsen.

Perish the thought that the ‘Boys in Blue’ will be using their number two boat to help them gain a fifth XCAT World Championship this weekend.

Photo: Victory Team

Huraiz Al Mur Huraiz (centre) with Gary Ballough (right) and co-driver Ahmad Al Hameli.