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September 14, 2024: In a surprising turn of events, Team Abu Dhabi’s Mansoor Al Mansoori secured pole position for tomorrow’s Grand Prix of Portugal, the penultimate round of the UIM F2 World Championship, outpacing his team-mate and four-time world champion Rashed Al Qemzi.

Al Mansoori's stellar performance came after Al Qemzi failed to make it into the six-boat qualifying shootout, marking a shift in the championship's momentum. The stage is now set for an exhilarating race as Al Mansoori's pole position adds intensity to the title chase.

There was also drama when Sweden's Mathilda Wiberg, currently trailing Al Qemzi by just eight points in the championship standings, crashed during qualifying. Wiberg will start tomorrow’s race in fifth place, with her team scrambling to repair the damage before the race.

Lithuania’s Edgaras Riabko, who qualified third, is only one point behind Wiberg, making this one of the most competitive seasons in the UIM F2 World Championship’s 30-year history. The top positions have remained fiercely contested, with less than a second separating the fastest seven boats during the qualifying sessions.

Tomorrow’s race promises high stakes as Al Mansoori looks to capitalize on his pole position, while Al Qemzi, who will start from eighth place, faces an uphill battle to maintain his lead in the world championship standings.

Current Championship Standings

1. Rashed Al Qemzi (UAE) – 52 points
2. Mathilda Wiberg (SWE) – 44 points
3. Edgaras Riabko (LTU) – 43 points
4. Mansoor Al Mansoori (UAE) – 31 points
5. Matthew Palfreyman (GBR) – 29 points

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