Intro:

Finnish driver Sami Selio set the fastest time of the day on Thursday (28th November) to take pole position for Friday's Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi - the penultimate round of the UIM F1H2O World Championship.

Script:

Just five days after the Grand Prix of Qatar, the F1 powerboats were in action once again for the qualifying rounds of the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.

In the finale - a thrilling six-boat "shoot-out" - Finland's Sami Selio tore around the 1.9-kilometre circuit to take pole with a fastest lap time of 44.82 seconds.

The speed of the two-time world champion, racing for the Mad Croc Team, shattered the hopes of French driver Philippe Chiappe.

Chiappe, looking for his first career pole position, had been sitting at the top of the scoring sheets with a 45.11 lap time, but had to settle for second spot.

Third was Alex Carella of Italy, who captured his second straight world title in Abu Dhabi a year ago.

This year, Carella lies second in the drivers' overall standings behind his fellow Qatar Team driver Shaun Torrente, who had a difficult time in qualifying.

Engine problems at the start of the first lap ruined Torrente's chance of taking pole position, and the American has been relegated to the back of the pack for Friday's Grand Prix.

It was a better day for Ahmed Al Hameli - the Team Abu Dhabi driver taking advantage of home waters to qualify in fourth spot.

Meanwhile, his team-mate Thani Al Qamzi finished some way off the pace to qualify in ninth.

A great effort from Portuguese driver Duarte Benavente saw him secure his best qualifying position of the year - 46.17 seconds good enough for fifth.

But Terry Rinker of Team Azerbaijan missed out on a top-six finish after his engine misfired, forcing an engine change, and he will be joining fellow American Torrente at the tail end of the starting places.
Abu Dhabi marks the penultimate stop on the F1H2O calendar. The season ends with the Grand Prix of Sharjah on 13th December.