QMSF prepares to host first ever Qatar Nations Cup

By Sports Reporter/Doha

While attention will focus on the F1 H20 racing on Friday and Saturday and the battle between Qatar’s table-topping drivers, Alex Carella and Shaun Torrente - and the likes of Sami Selio, Philippe Chiappe and Thani Al-Qamzi - the first ever Qatar Nations Cup will take centre stage today and tomorrow. 

The Nations Cup format was the brainchild of H2O Racing and has already worked successfully in Singapore in 2011 and Khor Fakkan in 2012.

“The Qatar Team was very competitive at the last two Nations Cups and the QMSF was keen to have a Nations Cup race in Doha,” enthused Nations Cup promoter Casimiro Di San Germano. “The boats and all the equipment have been stored in Abu Dhabi and we have fitted new steering wheels, seats and the latest safety equipment.

“Engines have been overhauled by Mercury and we are ready to go. Logistically we could not run a Nations Cup at every race venue, but we are delighted to be here in Doha for the first Qatar Nations Cup.”

Italy, Lebanon, Qatar, UAE, Norway, Russia and Saudi Arabia will be represented at the inaugural Qatar Nations Cup this week. Up to four drivers are selected to represent their country and they take part in free practice sessions, timed trials and a series of match races tomorrow, before further practice and sprint races on Friday.

Regular F-4S driver Khalid Abdullah al-Kuwari and Mohammed al-Obaidly will represent the State of Qatar at the Nations Cup meeting under the management of

Khalid bin Arhama al-Kuwari, head of formula racing at the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), which runs under the presidency of His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani.

“Our policy at the QMSF is to encourage local talent and get as many local drivers into the sport as possible. I am sure that Khalid and Mohammed will perform well and use this opportunity to achieve success for Qatar.”

Brazil, Brunei Finland, Hungary, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa and the UAE have registered teams in the past and the UAE won the previous two Nations Cups, courtesy of Ahmed al-Hameli and Majed al-Mansoori in Singapore and al-Mansoori and Rashed al-Tayer in Khor Fakkan.

The emphasis in Nations Cups is on racing for a country and not individual glory. Match races take on a knockout format with points awarded for each race and the winners eventually progressing to the final. There is also a pair of 20-minute sprint races.

Nations Cup teams attended a briefing yesterday afternoon, where identical stock race boats, Mercury Optimax 2.5-litre engines and Dewald propellers were assigned and fuel was distributed.

After a second briefing today morning, entrants will take to the water for two practice sessions during the day.