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Sweden’s Jonas Andersson claimed pole position for the Grand Prix of Zhengzhou, China, as Team Abu Dhabi faced a series of setbacks during the penultimate round of the UIM F1H2O World Championship.

Sharjah Team’s Rusty Wyatt, the championship leader, maintained his grip on the title race with a 17-point lead over defending champion Andersson, after securing third place in qualifying behind France’s Peter Morin.

Twice a winner in China, Team Abu Dhabi’s Thani Al Qemzi will start his 157th Grand Prix in eighth place, hoping for a reversal of fortune after a frustrating few days on the 1,986m Yellow River circuit. Al Qemzi, who has dealt with engine and battery issues during both free practice and qualifying, retired mid-way through the afternoon’s first sprint session, followed shortly after by teammate Rashed Al Qemzi.

Despite these setbacks, Al Qemzi remains optimistic. "This race has just been bad luck," he said. "But tomorrow is a new race, and I hope to have a much better day."

Meanwhile, Andersson, a two-time F1H2O world champion, kept his title hopes alive by securing victory in the first sprint race after topping qualifying for the 13th time in his career. Wyatt, determined to maintain his lead, secured second place in the afternoon’s second sprint race, further cementing his advantage heading into the final rounds.

As Team Abu Dhabi’s mechanics work to resolve the technical issues, Al Qemzi will look to fight his way up the grid tomorrow. The Emirati driver showed early promise, setting the third-fastest lap during Thursday’s free practice session and topping Q1 earlier today before being forced to retire.

2024 UIM F1H2O World Championship Standings:

1. Rusty Wyatt (CAN) - 96 points
2. Jonas Andersson (SWE) - 79
3. Erik Stark (SWE) - 77.5
4. Peter Morin (FRA) - 64.5
5. Bartek Marszalek (POL) - 55
6. Sami Selio (FIN) - 40
7. Marit Stromoy (NOR) - 38
8. Stefan Arand (EST) - 34.5
9. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) - 27.5
10. Ben Jelf (GB) - 26.5

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