Abu Dhabi, UAE: Team Abu Dhabi is set to face familiar rivals in the inaugural UAE Class-3 Offshore Powerboat Championship, scheduled to kick off in Khor Fakkan on Thursday.
The seasoned pairings of Faleh Al-Mansoori with Shaun Torrente in Abu Dhabi 4 and Rashed Al-Tayer alongside Majed Al-Mansoori in Abu Dhabi 5 are gearing up for a competitive opening round as part of the Khor Fakkan Marine Festival.
The revival of Class-3 racing in the UAE earlier this year set the stage for intense competition, with Arif Al-Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi clinching victory for Fazza in Abu Dhabi.
As the new championship unfolds, the Team Abu Dhabi pairs are expected to face stiff competition from rivals eyeing success in the coastal city of Khor Fakkan.
The experienced Team Abu Dhabi duo of Al-Mansoori and Torrente, alongside Al-Tayer and Al-Mansoori, are primed for the challenge, drawing on their wealth of expertise in offshore powerboat racing.
The championship will not only test the mettle of the teams but also showcase the prowess of the vessels in varying maritime conditions.
Among the leading contenders are Al-Zaffain and Bin Hendi, the victors in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. Their success positions them as formidable opponents, adding an extra layer of competition to the championship.
The series is set to continue with subsequent rounds in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, promising a thrilling season for offshore powerboat enthusiasts.
Competing teams are not limited to UAE-based contenders, as Sharjah Team’s Konstantin Ustinov and Dmitry Vandyshev, along with Scott Williams and Martin Campbell of Team GB, are poised to deliver strong challenges.
Additionally, Bader Al-Dousari and Abdullatif Al-Omani from Kuwait, piloting Raheeb17, add an international dimension to the competition.
Three-time F1H2O world champion Shaun Torrente expressed his enthusiasm for the Khor Fakkan race, highlighting the unique course that combines protected and unprotected segments.
Torrente acknowledged the synergy with teammate Faleh Al-Mansoori, emphasizing their strong rapport on the water.
Torrente and Al-Mansoori will miss the second Class-3 race on Friday, as the former will participate in official practice on Khalid Lagoon for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Sharjah, the final round of the F1H2O world championship.
The decision reflects Team Abu Dhabi’s commitment to maintaining a competitive presence across multiple racing disciplines.
As the UAE Class-3 Offshore Powerboat Championship unfolds, spectators and enthusiasts anticipate thrilling performances, intense rivalries, and the crowning of maritime champions in the picturesque setting of Khor Fakkan.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members