2014 F1 Powerboat World Championship

2014 F1 Powerboat World Championship
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The 2014 UIM F1 H2O World Championship was the 31st season of Formula 1 Powerboat racing. Alex Carella, driving for the Qatar Team, entered the season as defending triple world champion having successfully defended his world championship for the second year in a row in 2013.[1]

Philippe Chiappe (pictured in 2009) won his first championship.

Carella's streak as champion was ended by France's Philippe Chiappe for the CTIC China Team. Chiappe won the final two races of the season in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, overhauling a ten-point deficit to Carella and eventually won the championship – the first for a French competitor[2] – by eight points. Carella had won the season's first two races in Doha and Liuzhou, before he was disqualified in the third race of the season, which was held in Doha.[3] Third place in the championship went to Carella's teammate Shaun Torrente, who was the only other winner of the 2014 season, in the second Doha event.[3] The results for Carella and Torrente were more than enough for the Qatar Team to win the teams' championship, 40 points clear of the CTIC China Team. The pole position and fastest lap trophies were also taken by Carella, beating Chiappe in both categories.

Teams and drivers

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Team Hull Engine No. Race drivers Rounds
  Qatar Team DAC Mercury 2.5 V6 1   Alex Carella[4] All
2   Shaun Torrente[4] All
  Team Abu Dhabi BaBa Mercury 2.5 V6 5   Thani Al Qamzi[5] 2, 4–5
6   Ahmed Al Hameli[5] 2, 4–5
  CTIC China Team Moore Mercury 2.5 V6 7   Philippe Chiappe[6] All
DAC 8   Xiong Ziwei[6] All
  F1 Atlantic Team/Interpass/GC DAC Mercury 2.5 V6 9   Youssef Al Rubayan All
BaBa 10   Duarte Benavente All
  Mad Croc BaBa Racing Team BaBa Mercury 2.5 V6 11   Sami Seliö[7] All
12   Filip Roms[7] All
  Team Sweden Molgaard Mercury 2.5 V6 14   Jonas Andersson All
15   Jesper Forss 2–5
  Motorglass F1 Team BaBa Mercury 2.5 V6 18   Bartek Marszalek[8] 1
18   Bartek Marszalek 2–6
DAC 23   Marco Gambi[8] 1
Blaze 24   Francesco Cantando[8] All
  Caudwell Racing Caudwell Caudwell 3.5 V6 33   Ivan Brigada[9] 2–4
34   Tomas Cermak[9] 2–4
  Team Nautica BaBa Mercury 2.5 V6 50   Marit Strømøy[10] All
Molgaard 51   Erik Stark[10] All
Key
Regular boat/driver
Boat ineligible for team points

Team and driver changes

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As in 2013, there were no major changes to the teams present in the 2014 championship. All nine were once again represented, albeit with some sporting new identities. The most significant of these was the new title sponsorship of Francesco Cantando's team. Known as Singha for many years, thanks to sponsorship from the Thai Singha brand of alcohol, Cantando signed a new deal ensuring his team would be known as the Motorglass F1 Team from 2014.[8] Joining Cantando would once again be Bartek Marszalek who competed in five of the six races in 2013, and fellow Italian Marco Gambi. Whereas Bartek competed for the full year, Gambi was only present at the opening round in Doha. Jonas Andersson's team was the other to undergo a change of identity over the winter as he once again reverted to the Team Sweden name, having been sponsored by Azerbaijan the previous year. For the first race in Qatar, Andersson's team ran with just his own boat, but was joined by 2012 F-4S champion and fellow Swede Jesper Forss from the second race onwards.

At reigning champions the Qatar Team, everything remained the same with Alex Carella and Shaun Torrente again reprising their roles.[4] Similarly, Team Abu Dhabi also retained Thani Al Qamzi and Ahmed Al Hameli for 2014,[5] however they missed both races in Qatar, the first and third races of the season, reportedly due to matters relating to the politics in the region between Qatar and the UAE.[11] CTIC China Team kept 2013 runner-up Philippe Chiappe and their young Chinese driver Xiong Ziwei[6] whilst F1 Atlantic Team also stayed with their line-up of Youssef Al Rubayan and Duarte Benavente.

Sami Seliö and Filip Roms continued the all-Finnish line-up at the Mad Croc team for 2014[7] whilst Marit Strømøy led the campaign for Team Nautica again, and for 2014 was partnered with fellow Scandinavian, young Swedish driver Erik Stark, replacing the retired Rinaldo Osculati.[10] Caudwell Racing were also back in the championship, campaigning their unique four-stroke engine package, but the team missed the first race in Qatar. An announcement during the summer however revealed their intentions for the rest of the season, with Ivan Brigada again leading the South African team alongside Slovakian Tomas Cermak who was returning to the sport for the first time since 2010.[9] Despite a very popular double points finish for the team at the Grand Prix of the Middle East, with Brigada an excellent seventh, the challenges faced with running heavier four-stroke engines against the well-established and lighter Mercury two-strokes finally took its toll. Caudwell were forced to bow out of the championship prior to the fifth and final race of the season in Sharjah, with 2014 proving to be their most successful year.[12]

Season calendar

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Countries that hosted F1 Powerboat races in 2014, shown in green. Former host nations are shown in pink.

A five race calendar made up the 2014 F1 Powerboat season, the smallest in the history of the championship. It began in Doha, Qatar on 15 March and ended in Sharjah, UAE on 19 December. Having pulled out in 2013, Russia did not return to the calendar for 2014, and in addition a Brazilian race was not held, despite its debut in 2013 amidst much fanfare. The round in Ukraine, scheduled for 24 August, was subsequently cancelled in the wake of the country's unrest, and an additional race in Qatar titled the Grand Prix of the Middle East was added to the calendar in Ukraine's place.[13] A second round in China was expected initially, but was later removed from the schedule leaving Liuzhou as China's sole representation in 2014, marking 20 years since the championship first visited the country.[14]

Round Race Title Date Circuit Location Race Winner Hull/Engine
1   11th Grand Prix of Qatar 15 March Doha[15]   Alex Carella DAC/Mercury
2   18th Grand Prix of China 6 October Liuzhou   Alex Carella DAC/Mercury
3   1st Grand Prix of the Middle East 15 November Doha[13]   Shaun Torrente DAC/Mercury
4   22nd Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 21 November Abu Dhabi   Philippe Chiappe Moore/Mercury
5   15th Grand Prix of Sharjah 19 December Sharjah   Philippe Chiappe Moore/Mercury

Results and standings

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Points were awarded to the top 10 classified finishers. A maximum of two boats per team were eligible for points in the teams' championship.

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th   9th   10th 
Points 20 15 12 9 7 5 4 3 2 1

Drivers standings

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Pos Driver QAT
 
CHN
 
MID
 
ABU
 
SHA
 
Points
1   Philippe Chiappe 2 Ret 2 1 1 70
2   Alex Carella 1 1 DSQ 5 2 62
3   Shaun Torrente Ret 4 1 2 3 56
4   Sami Seliö Ret 8 3 4 4 33
5   Francesco Cantando 4 Ret 5 6 5 28
6   Erik Stark Ret 2 6 8 Ret 23
7   Duarte Benavente 3 DNS DNS Ret 7 16
8   Bartek Marszalek 8 5 8 10 9 16
9   Thani Al Qamzi 3 9 Ret 14
10   Ahmed Al Hameli 9 3 Ret 14
11   Filip Roms 5 7 9 11 Ret 13
12   Jonas Andersson Ret Ret 4 Ret Ret 9
13   Marit Strømøy 6 Ret 11 7 DNS 9
14   Xiong Ziwei 7 10 Ret 13 8 8
15   Jesper Forss Ret Ret 12 6 5
16   Youssef Al Rubayan Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret 5
17   Ivan Brigada Ret 7 Ret 4
18   Tomas Cermak Ret 10 Ret 1
  Marco Gambi DNS
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (cell empty)
Text formatting Meaning
Bold Pole position
Italics Fastest lap


Teams standings

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Only boats with results eligible for points counting towards the teams' championship are shown here.

Pos Team Boat
No.
QAT
 
CHN
 
MID
 
ABU
 
SHA
 
Points
1   Qatar Team 1 1 1 DSQ 5 2 118
2 Ret 4 1 2 3
2   CTIC China Team 7 2 Ret 2 1 1 78
8 7 10 Ret 13 8
3   Mad Croc BaBa Racing Team 11 Ret 8 3 4 4 46
12 5 7 9 11 Ret
4   Motorglass F1 Team 18 5 8 10 9 41
23 DNS
24 4 Ret 5 6 5
5   Team Nautica 50 6 Ret 11 7 DNS 32
51 Ret 2 6 8 Ret
6   Team Abu Dhabi 5 3 9 Ret 28
6 9 3 Ret
7   F1 Atlantic Team/Interpass/GC 9 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret 21
10 3 DNS DNS Ret 7
8   Team Sweden 14 Ret Ret 4 Ret Ret 14
15 Ret Ret 12 6
9   Caudwell Racing 33 Ret 7 Ret 5
34 Ret 10 Ret
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (cell empty)
Text formatting Meaning
Bold Pole position
Italics Fastest lap


References

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  1. ^ "Carella Locks Down Third Straight Title With Win In Sharjah!". F1H2O. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  2. ^ ""Vive La France" Chiappe Wins First Title In Sharjah!". F1 Powerboat World Championship. H2O Racing. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Torrente Sets Doha Alight With His 2nd Career Victory!". F1 Powerboat World Championship. H2O Racing. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Qatar Team "Going All Out" in Preperation [sic] For 2014!". F1H2O. 28 January 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Team Abu Dhabi "Re-Energized" For 2014 Opener In Doha!". F1H2O. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "CTIC China Team Hungry To Finally Win A World Title!". F1H2O. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Sami Selio – More Determined Than Ever For 2014!". F1H2O. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d "Cantando To Lead Motorglass F1 Team In 2014!". F1H2O. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  9. ^ a b c "Caudwell Marine Returns With New Promise For China!". F1H2O. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  10. ^ a b c "Marit Stromoy To Lead Strong New "Team Nautica" Line-Up!". F1H2O. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  11. ^ "WORLD F1 WEEKEND IN ABU DHABI". Raceboat International. 18 November 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  12. ^ "CAUDWELL DIALS OUT". Raceboat International. 14 December 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Qatar To Host Grand Prix Of The Middle East". F1H2O. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  14. ^ "F1 H2O to Celebrate 20 Years in China With GP at Liuzhou!". F1H2O. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  15. ^ "Archived copy". uim.sportcentric.net. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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