Skip to main content
search
Victory’s new drivers are relishing China double-header challenge

Chris Davies on 30th September 2019

Dubai’s F1H2o Victory Team will mount a renewed F1H20 challenge, with a brand-new line-up of drivers, Erik Stark and David Del Pin in China.

The duo will replace Italy’s Alex Carella and Emirati Ahmed Al Hameli in the two Victory boats for the remaining three rounds of the season.

The next assignment for the team will be in Xiamen at the Grand Prix of Xiamen and the Grand Prix of China from October 18-20, followed by the season finale at the Grand Prix of Sharjah from December 18-21.

Heading into the second half of the season, there is a keen tussle for the drivers’ world crown with Team Abu Dhabi’s defending world champion Shaun Torrente and Team Amaravati’s Jonas Andersson with one win each.

The duo is separated by a mere three points with the American having 35 points followed by Andersson in second with 32, while Team Abu Dhabi’s second driver Thani Al Qamzi is third overall with 27 points.

The 28-year-old Stark is no novice on the watersport scene having started his career when only 12 years old in the Swedish S-250 class, after which he went on to win the F2 World title on four occasions.

Racing for Maverick Team, Stark eased into the F1 category while making his debut in 2012.

His first podium place came in China in 2014 and followed this up with another two podiums in 2015.

Del Pin also comes into the F1 world with loads of experience, having been associated with various watersports over the past few years.

The Italian has won World Championships in the F1000 class in 2008 and 2010, while also briefly racing for Team Abu Dhabi.

He also raced in the UIM F2 Championship in 2017 with his own team, and took the third spot at the European Championships held in Kupiskis, Lithuania.

Chairman Huraiz Bin Huraiz admitted that:

It’s going to be a huge challenge for Victory now onwards.

But in Erik and David we have a fine combination of ambition, experience and the will to succeed.

I am surely looking forward to some exciting results for Victory Team in the near future.

Located on the southeast coast of China, Xiamen is a tourist city of Fujian Province famous for its attractive seascape housing a circuit of 2,516 metres along the wide gulf with deep water.

The city mainly consists of Xiamen Island, Gulangyu Island, the north bank area of the Jiulong River and Tong’an County connected with the mainland by the Gaoji Seawall and Xiamen Bridge.

Drivers will open the first day (October 18) with a briefing at 8.30 am (12.30 pm UAE) followed by the press conference at 11.30 am (3.30 pm UAE) and an extra session of practice from 3 to 5 m (7 to 9 pm UAE).

On race day (October 19), there will be a free practice session for F4 boats from 8.40 am (12.40 pm UAE) followed by time trials, while a full free practice for F1 boats will be from 9.45 am (1.45pm UAE) followed by the F1H2O Rebellion Qualifications between 11 am and 12 noon (3 to 4 pm UAE). The parade lap for F1 boats will be at 3.45 pm (7.45 pm UAE) followed by the Grand Prix of Xiamen from 4 pm.

It will be a similar schedule for the Grand Prix of China on October 20 with drivers starting the day with a briefing followed by free practice and qualifying earlier in the day and the Grand Prix of China from 4 to 5 pm (8 to 9 pm UAE).

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
More on