CAPPELLINI TIPS WORLD CHAMPION AL QEMZI TO ROUND OFF SEASON WITH HOME WIN

Team Abu Dhabi director Guido Cappellini expects Rashed Al Qemzi to adjust a splendid season with triumph on home waters this end of the week.

As of now introduced as the 2019 UIM F2 world champion, Al Qemzi gets the opportunity to guarantee somewhere else in the record books by winning on the series first visit to the UAE capital, and group manager Cappellini anticipates that the Emirati driver should do that only.

"If the championship was still all the way open, the weight in the group and the driver would be mind blowing," said the Italian ten-times previous F1H20 world champion in front of Saturday's Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi

"In any case, Rashed is as of now champion so there is no pressure. He simply needs to work superbly. He's thinking just to win this race, and we accept he will."

As Al Qemzi and the remainder of the 20-strong F2 line-up gathered at Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club for this current evening's free practice, Cappellini paid tribute to the 27-year old Emirati driver who was Nations Cup and F4-S title holder before his first F2 triumph in 2017.

"I have known Rashed for a long time and in this time I've seen a major distinction in him," he said. "He is progressively restrained, he works more diligently, and this is the blend that brings results. I'm not astonished by what he has done this season. I saw his potential quite a while prior. He is genuinely talented.

"Since he ventured up an evaluation he has won the F2 world title twice in three years. That is difficult, as this is one of the most troublesome race classifications on the planet."

Mirroring his group manager's confidence, Al Qemzi said before free practice: "I feel generally excellent, and I'm glad to race in my nation. It will mean a great deal to me to win here in Abu Dhabi, however I'm loose for this race."

Al Qemzi anticipates "a major battle" to follow in Saturday evening's Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi between Portugal's Duarte Benavente, Sweden's Ola Pettersson, Dutchman Ferdinand Zandbergen and Germany's Stefan Hagin, the four drivers doing combating for second place in the title.

The beginning lattice for the race will be chosen in the three-stage qualifying session getting going at 3.30pm on Friday over the 1.825m Grand Prix circuit giving perfect viewing to observers between the Corniche and the Breakwater.

Caption: Team Abu Dhabi manager Guido Cappellini with Rashed Al Qemzi.