4:28 PM Fri 14 Oct 2011 GMT
Italian Grand Prix, the third round of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship and the title decider for the European Championship, is currently underway in Cernobbio.
Defending World Champions Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi were the class act in today's official practice, heading a quartet of Middle East boats, as the Class 1 fleet took to the waters of Lake Como for the first time since 1987.
Seven of the eight boats out on show posted sub three 3 minute laps, with the Victory crew stamping their authority on proceedings on their final lap of the session, posting 2mins 50.93secs, three seconds quicker than their nearest challengers, Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini in Spirit of Qatar 95, who will no doubt be pleased to have outpaced their teammates by over three seconds - Sheikh Hassan and Steve Curtis closing the session in fourth spot.
Team Abu Dhabi's scratch pairing of Majed Al Mansoori and Ahmed Al Hameli - both making just their second starts in Class 1 with Al Hameli stepping in for the injured Rashed Al Tayer - produced an impressive showing going third quickest.
Fend Racing's Luca Fendi and Giovanni Carpitella took full advantage of the session to dial in their boat completing nine laps and improving their time by ten seconds to finish as the fastest Italian outfit on the water, whilst rivals DAC Racing managed just one solitary lap. The battle for Norwegian supremacy was won by Welmax's new pairing of Bjorge Jacobsen and Kurt Olsen finishing ahead of Relekta, with both MITI Tech Power and FA.RO. ACCIAI failing to get out on the water.
After today's showing Arif Al Zafeen and Nadir bin Hendi will head into tomorrow's qualifying session confident that they can not only extend their lead in the Edox Pole Position Championship, but set themselves up for optimum points in race one and claw back the five point advantage Spirit of Qatar 96 holds over them in the European Championship standings.
First practice:
1. 3 Victory - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) - 02.50,93
2. 95 Spirit of Qatar - A Al Neama (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) - 02.53,81
3. 5 Team Abu Dhabi - A Al Hameli (UAE) / M Al Mansoori (UAE) - 02.56,46
4. 96 Spirit of Qatar - H Al Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (ENG) - 02.57,00
5. 10 Fendi Racing - L Formilli Fendi (ITA) / G Carpitella (ITA) - 02.58,51
6. 74 Poliform - G Cappellini (ITA) / G Montavoci (ITA) - 02.59,56
7. 90 Welmax - B Jacobsen (NOR) / K Olsen (NOR) - 02.59,93
8. 91 Relekta - U Isik (TUR) / C Zaborowski (NOR) - 03.10,26
-. 18 MITI Tech Power - S Sardelli (ITA) / N Giorgi (ITA) - dns
-. 23 FA.RO. ACCIAI - F Hemelaer (BEL) / L Nicolini (ITA) - dns
UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship website
by Nigel Quilter
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Maatsuyker Island, TAS
