Top three teams remain unshaken at top of UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series standings

The top three spots in the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Powerboat Series rankings have remained unchanged after the fourth round of action at Lake Maggiore last weekend. And as a result of a second place finish there, current Series leaders Fazza will go into the next round of action in Arona this weekend with a 290-point cushion on their nearest rivals – the second-placed Mouawad team of Omar Danial and Gary Ballough. The Fazza combination of Arif Al Zaffain and Mohammed Al Marri now boast a total of 1130 points following their impressive podium performance in Stresa, which saw them powering from last spot at the start to second place by the first corner. Still in third place in the Series is the Victory Team boat, with Salem Al Adidi and Talib Al Sayed collecting a total of 750 points in the four rounds so far. Making a significant climb up the standings is, of course, last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix winners Skydive Dubai, with Rashid Al Tayer and Jay Price rising five places, from 10^th to fifth with 506 points and an eye firmly on a top three Series finish. The Spirit of Dubai team of Rashid Al Marri and Salim Al Hamli have also taken a significant step up, their sixth place finish last weekend taking them from sixth to fourth place overall with 521 points. Meanwhile, the Westerlund Racing combination of Joakim Kumlin and Daniel Svenson, who topped the podium in Round three in Dubai have dropped from fifth to eighth after technical difficulties saw them failing to finish last weekend’s race. And the Qatar Team of Mohammed Al Nasr and Abdulrahman Al Nasser, who claimed the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run honours last weekend, have also dropped down, from fourth to sixth with a total of 487 points. With 400 points awarded for a race win, and zero for failing the finish, there’ll be plenty at stake when the boats return to the water of Lake Maggiore this weekend. “The great thing about the UIM Skydive Dubai XCAT World Series is that nothing is a foregone conclusion. Anything can happen and that makes this coming weekend’s European Grand Prix in Arona so exciting,” said Secretary General of the WPPA, Sid Bensalah. “Our first outing into international waters last weekend was a spectacular success with hundreds of people coming out to witness the speed and exhilaration of XCAT racing. And I have no doubt we will see another great contest in Arona,” he added. Racing gets underway in Arona on Saturday with the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run at 4.30pm (Italian time), while the Emaar Pole Position and main race (the European Grand Prix) will be contested on Sunday at 11.15am and 4.30pm (Italian time) respectively. Fans who cannot make it to Arona can follow all the action live via the link on the xcatracing.com home page.