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Torrente fastest in Extra Free Practice

Chris Davies on 18th October 2019

Shaun Torrente underlined his determination to clinch a second successive drivers’ title in the UIM F1H2O World Championship today by setting the early pace at the start of a tense race weekend in China.

Carrying a slim three-points lead over Sweden’s Jonas Andersson into tomorrow’s (Saturday) Grand Prix of Xiamen, Torrente was comfortably fastest in the two-hour official Extra Free Practice session with a lap of 55.41 secs on the 2,516m Wuyan Bay circuit.

Marit Stromoy on the pace again Photo: by Vittorio Ubertone

Norway’s Marit Stromoy was second quickest with a 56.39 and she told F1H2o’s Nigel Quilter after:

Our qualifying this year has been going really well.

We have now found a good set-up for Q2 and Q3 where before we had issues in Q2 and we have proved for sure we have the speed in Q3. So hopefully having solved the start problem I am hoping for two good races here.

With two races it will be tough, I am not really defending anything, I am fourth in the championship and we will be attacking from day 1.

It will be a more difficult weekend for the mechanics because they might find themselves having to do major work through the night.

Of course for us, the drivers, it is more racing but we have had a long break and are all very eager to get on with.

It will be a hard weekend, an important one, and the fact that we have two races on the same circuit means the set-ups we decide on in practice will be extremely important.

Italian former four-times world champion Alex Carella made his first appearance for the Maverick team and posted a 56.37 placing him third overall.

Alex Carella was third fastest Photo: by Vittorio Ubertone

While this year’s F1H2O World Championship concludes in Sharjah in December, developments in the Grand Prix double header in China in the space of 24 hours could decide the major issues.

F1H20 leading official practice times

1. Shaun Torrente UAE 55.41 secs

2. Marit Stromoy NOR 56.36

3. Alex Carella ITA 56.37

4. Thani Al Qemzi UAE 56.39

5. Peter Morin FRA 56.43

6. Jonas Andersson SWE 56.7

7. Phillippe Chiappe FRA 56.89

8. Erik Edin SWE 57.20

9. Bartek Marszalek POL 57.39

10. Alberto Comparato ITA 57.91

Saturday 19 October

00:40 – 01:00 Free Practice F4
01:10 – 01:30 Time Trials F4
01:45 – 02:30 F1H20 Free Practice
03:00 – 04:00 F1H2O Rebellion Qualifications
06:30 – 06:50 F4 Race Day 1
07:45 – 08:00 F1H2O Parade Lap
08:00 – 09:00 F1H2O Grand Prix of Xiamen
09:10 – 09:30 Prize Giving Ceremony

Grand Prix of China

Sunday 20 October

00:40 – 01:00 Free Practice F4
01:10 – 01:30 Time Trials F4
01:45 – 02:30 F1H2O Free Practice
03:00 – 04:00 F1H2O Rebellion Qualifications
06:30 – 06:50 F4 Race Day 2
07:45 – 08:00 F1H2O Parade Lap
08:00 – 09:00 F1H2O Grand Prix of China
09:10 – 09:30 Prize Giving Ceremony

*All times GMT

Add 1 hour for British Summer Time
Add 2 hours for Central European Time
Subtract 4 hours for Eastern Standard Time

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