RACE RESULTS

Dubai Grand Prix
Dubai , United Arab Emirates - 18 October

Victory Team
News 2002

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SPIRIT OF NORWAY CLINCH WORLD TITLE AS VICTORY 7 WIN DUBAI GRAND PRIX IN DRAMATIC FINISH

Gjelsten, Curtis cruise to championship triumph as Nasser, Al Qama win Emirates Airline, Dubai Duty Free-sponsored race

Dubai, UAE, October 18, 2002: Steve Curtis and Bjorn Rune Gjelsten in Spirit of  Norway clinched the 2002 UIM Arbank Class 1 World Offshore Powerboat Championship today as their closest rivals for the title, Ali Nasser and Ali Al Qama in Victory 7 rounded off an intriguing season by winning a dramatic Dubai Grand Prix.

Even before the start of the championship’s last of eight rounds, sponsored by Emirates Airline and Dubai Duty Free, it was clear that it would need a mechanical disaster to prevent Curtis and Gjelsten from clinching the world crown, but the Anglo-Norwegian pairing had a smooth passage to finish second on the day.

The real drama unfolded on the 13^th of 15 laps, as Nasser and Al Qama, who had led for virtually the entire race, moved wide on a turn, and Saeed H.Al-Tayer and Mohammed Al Marri in Victory 1 briefly took the lead.

Had they been able to hold on to it, last year’s world champions would have climbed above Australians Bill Barry-Cotter and Peter McGrath in Riviera to secure third place in the world title race.

But in a final twist of championship fate, their challenge spluttered to a halt soon afterwards when their engine’s alternator seized. Victory 7, having also fallen temporarily behind Spirit of Norway, suddenly made a great surge to regain the lead, and went on to win comfortably.

Riviera completed the top three, and the leading trio received their race and championship trophies at Dubai International Marine Club from H.H.Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates Airline and President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.

Becoming the most successful throttleman in Class 1 world championship history, Curtis, described by his driver, Gjelstin, as “aggressive – a winner,” said: “This is probably the toughest of my four world championship wins. I’ll carry on as long as I enjoy the sport, and as long as Bjorn wants me.”

Race starts in the UIM Arbank Class 1 World Offshore Powerboat Championship are seldom anything less than spectacular, and this one was no exception, as the 11 boats roared to life, the two Victory catamarans immediately making their intentions clear as they quickly forged ahead.

With Victory 7 soon in front, and Victory 1 settling into second place, Spirit of Norway were content to relax into a comfortable third position, while Riviera’s grip on third place in the championship did not immediately look secure as they slipped back, hindered by a leaking fuel tank.

While they avoided any terminal problems, three other crews were not so lucky. Roscioli Hotels went out on the second lap with engine failure, ECS was halted on lap six by a broken turbo charger, and Highlander went out on lap nine with a broken right propeller. 

Click here to view WOC final Championship results