AL QEMZI SETS EARLY PACE IN PORTUGAL
Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi produced more of the form which has seen him dominate the 2019 UIM F2 World Championship today in the countdown to the Grand Prix of Portugal.
The Emirati driver, who is looking to secure his second F2 world title in three years with a third victory of the season in Ribadouro, set the early pace in official practice on the Albufeira da Pala reservoir course.
His time of 46.16 was the fastest of the 21 challengers when he retired early from the session, and while Norway’s Tobias Munthe-Kaas produced a late surge to clock a best lap of 46.03, Al Qemzi was in a confident mood as he prepared to chase a fourth successive pole position.
He was faster than each of the five drivers who have a mathematical chance of catching him in the title race, including his closest challenger, Dutchman Ferdinand Zandbergen, who trails by 30pts and was down in 13th place in official practice in 48.03.
Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Tayer (47.93) was 12th fastest in the session, with the three stage qualifying series to follow for the Grand Prix of Portugal starting at 3.45pm local time tomorrow.