Please select your home edition
Edition
Noble Marine 2022 POWER - LEADERBOARD

Carella takes brilliant win in UIM F1H2O Grand Prix of France

by F1H2O on 2 Jul 2017
UIM F1H2O Grand Prix of France F1H2O Press
Team Abu Dhabi’s Alex Carella led from start-to-finish to take a brilliant victory in the UIM F1H2O Grand Prix of France on Lac Leman.

The three-time world champion made the perfect start off the dock from pole and was comfortably clear of Philippe Chiappe and Sami Selio when the yellow flag was raised on lap 11 after Australian Grant Trask barrel-rolled out of the race from fifth place.

At the restart Carella showed the same commitment and despite the added distraction of a loose canopy cover and being chased and put under pressure to the chequered flag by Selio, held him off to take his second consecutive win on Lac Leman and a 13th Grand Prix victory. “I was waiting for this victory for a long, long time,” he said. “To win again in France is a great feeling. It was an important win for the whole team and I thank them for the hard work and for giving me the perfect boat. I put my maximum into the race and it paid off. I can say I am back and feeing really good in the boat.”



The restart changed the shape of the race behind the leader with a clutch of drivers making up places; Selio immediately passed Chiappe who then suddenly slowed and for the third time in three starts in Evian the gremlins struck again and the defending world champion forced to retire, his race ending on lap 17, Selio’s second consecutive podium of the year moving him to the top of the driver’s world championship standings.

The drive of the afternoon belonged to American Shaun Torrente after crashing in qualifying earlier in the day and starting from 15th. The Victory Team driver’s hopes of salvaging any points looked very thin after a poor start and dropping further back but he recovered well to get up to ninth when the yellow flag came out.



A simply brilliant restart saw him [Torrente] jump six spots in one lap and go on to claim his first points of the season with teammate Ahmed Al Hameli passing Thani Al Qemzi to secure fourth place.

Team Sweden’s Jonas Andersson and Erik Stark also traded places after the yellow with Andersson coming out on top to take fifth with Stark slipping back to finish in seventh behind Al Qemzi.

Emirates Racing’s Marit Stromoy lost ground at the start but recovered well and moved up from 11th to take her first points of the season in eighth ahead of F1 Atlantic’s Duarte Benavente who extended his points finishing streak.



Italy’s Francesco Cantando earned a well-deserved point after bringing his brand new Blaze hull home in tenth place on the day he ran it in anger for the first time and after starting in 19th.

After the opening two rounds in Europe the UIM F1H2O World Championship now heads to the Far East and to Harbin for the Grand Prix of China on 11-13 August.

Haven Knox-Johnston CommercialGJW Direct - Motor Cruiser 2019 - FooterNoble Marine 2022 POWER - FOOTER

Related Articles

Technohull introduces the new XPD 46
The first model in its new Expedition Series Few things can beat the sense of freedom that comes with knowing there are no boundaries to your cruising adventures.
Posted on 26 Jun
Mersea's first ever 'inclusive' boat set to launch
FBA's initiative praised by Gold Medalist Saskia Clark & Paralympian & World Champion Hannah Stodel After more than four years of community fundraising totalling over £205,000, Freedom Boat Adventures is preparing to launch a groundbreaking accessible vessel on the River Blackwater.
Posted on 23 Jun
Vote now for the TYHA Marina Awards 2025
Proudly anchored by Haven Knox-Johnston The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA) is delighted to announce that voting is now open for the TYHA Marina Awards 2025, proudly anchored by Haven Knox-Johnston.
Posted on 23 Jun
Aquila Power Catamarans announces all-new 46 Yacht
Bringing large yacht innovation to a more intimate package Aquila Power Catamarans is excited to announce the upcoming launch of the all-new Aquila 46 Yacht, arriving September 2025.
Posted on 20 Jun
Project Velor
Rethinking the architecture of life at sea Nauta Design unveils a visionary 75-metre superyacht concept that blends elegant yet bold design and spatial innovation.
Posted on 19 Jun
The Italian Sea Group delivers Admiral Raja²
A refined balance of elegance, innovation, and performance The Italian Sea Group is pleased to announce the delivery of M/Y Admiral Raja², a 55-metre aluminium superyacht from the S-Force line, further strengthening the Group's reputation for excellence in high-end yacht design and construction.
Posted on 19 Jun
Amels 80 ready for sea trials
Powered by an advanced hybrid propulsion system Damen Yachting is delighted to announce the commencement of sea trials for the first Amels 80, an important phase in the journey towards delivery scheduled for this summer.
Posted on 19 Jun
Atlante Classic 35 # 1 M/Y Cabana sea trials
M/Y Cabana is now conducting extensive sea trials in the waters of Istanbul Following the succesful launch on 31 May 2025 at the Mengi Yay shipyard facilities in Tuzla, M/Y Cabana is now conducting extensive sea trials in the waters of Istanbul.
Posted on 18 Jun
Vandal Marine unveils the Vandal 60
Designed in collaboration with prestigious superyacht designers RWD Vandal Marine announced today the launch of its new Vandal 60 Chase, a foil-assisted power catamaran designed in collaboration with prestigious superyacht designers RWD.
Posted on 17 Jun
Amateur Boating Photographer Competition Opens
Stoneways Marine Insurance exciting to announce the theme as being 'Joy on the water' Stoneways Marine Insurance are excited to open their annual photography competition with this year's theme being 'Joy on the water'. The judges would like to see what brings you happiness on the water - it's a free pass to let your creativity run wild.
Posted on 17 Jun