11 February 2014, Fujairah – This week’s second round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series will mark the return to XCAT action of the Fendi Racing team.
Luca Fendi and throttleman Giovanni Carpitella will join forces in a bid to challenge the likes of Series leaders Fazza (Arif Al Zaffain and Nadir Bin Hendi) for the top spot, after purchasing a Victory Team-built boat.
“We decided to buy a boat from Victory to have more races and more fun during the year and also of course to try and win the Series,” explained Carpitella, who also races with Fendi in Class 1. “We have one race less [after missing out on Round 1 in Dubai last month] but the target is to stay on the podium for all the races and then also better prepare ourselves for Class 1 as well.”
Speaking about the boat they have purchased, Carpitella said: “I have never tried it, but I have driven a lot of Victory boats. I think this is a boat for flat water and flat conditions.
“I took some measurements and I think it’s a boat for turning fast and acceleration. I don’t think it would be very good in rough water but if you look at the calendar, most of the races are on flat water so I think we have bought a good toy.”
Carpitella is no stranger to XCAT racing – having claimed three victories in the early days – in 2001, 2006 and 2009 and he paired up with Alfredo Amato in the Videx team for the opening round of this season in Dubai last month to get a taste of it
once again. “I stopped for a few years but now I’m back and hope to continue for the rest of this Series and the next one,” he said.
As for what he’s expecting at the Fujairah International Marine Club this week, the Italian reckoned: “I have raced here in Fujairah in XCAT before and I know it’s normally flat water, although I’ve raced here twice in Class 1 and it was very rough. But I see the weather forecast is more or less ok. So we will try to reach the podium because Luca is a good driver and I also have experience in XCAT.”
The first Official Practice will take place at 1.30pm tomorrow (Wednesday) with the boat parade at 4.30pm. Emaar Pole Position will be contested at 1.30pm on Thursday while the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run will take place at 2.45pm. Final Official Practice will be at 10.30am on Friday with the Fujairah Grand Prix then starting at 3pm. Entry is free of charge for the general public.
