UAE Teams Assert Early Championship Intent at Sardinia Grand Prix
Cagliari, The Gulf Observer: Team Victory continued its impressive start to the 2026 UIM F1H2O World Championship as driver Shaun Torrente claimed pole position and victory in the sprint race during the opening round of the Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy in Cagliari.
Torrente, piloting “Victory 1,” delivered the fastest lap in the official qualifying session, posting a time of 42.533 seconds to secure pole position for Sunday’s main race and underline his status as a leading contender for the season-opening title.
His teammate, Erik Stark, driving “Victory 3,” finished ninth in qualifying with a time of 44.191 seconds.
UAE teams also produced a strong showing throughout the qualifying sessions. Team Sharjah’s Rusty Wyatt secured second place with a lap time of 42.727 seconds, while teammate Stefan Arand finished third in 42.807 seconds. Another Team Sharjah driver, Grant Trask, claimed sixth position after recording a time of 43.297 seconds.
For Team Abu Dhabi, Jonas Andersson finished tenth with a time of 44.257 seconds. Teammate Alec Weckström placed 14th in 46.645 seconds, while Rashed Al Qemzi secured 15th position with a time of 46.980 seconds.
Torrente capped off an outstanding day by winning the first sprint race of the season, earning the opening 10 championship points. He completed the 17-lap contest in first place ahead of Peter Morin of Team China, while Bartek Marszalek of Poland’s Stromoy Racing finished third.
Commenting on the team’s performance, Mohammed Harib, CEO of the Dubai International Marine Club and head of the Victory mission, praised Torrente’s exceptional display at the season opener. He said the pole position and sprint race victory reflected the team’s extensive preparation and technical readiness heading into the 2026 championship campaign.
