When you watch the 2024 fleet of drivers out on the water during free practice and qualifying, the leader of the session changes many hands several times over.
There’s no way of knowing who will reign victorious at the end of the intense Grand Prix Race and the action in-between will be edge of the seat stuff and the Grand Prix of Norway definitely didn’t disappoint.
Following disappointment for both Abu Dhabi Drivers following the opening round in Brindisi both Rashed Al Qemzi and team mate Mansoor Al Mansoori were focused heading into this weekend and both were determined to fight for positions this weekend in their very own redemption song.
The weekend started with a Master Class in match racing from Rashed, who romped through all four heats to secure the Tønsberg Båtrace Match Racing crown. He was joined on the Podium by Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg in second and Britain’s Matthew Palfreyman that powered home to Bronze.
Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi claimed pole position during Saturdays qualifying and securing a strong second place on the grid on his very last lap of the session was Team Mate Mansoor Al Mansoori. In his first F2 World Championship race, Rookie racer Jarno Vilmunen of Finland claimed the third starting place on the grid.
Sunday saw a 45minute warm up session for the drivers to ready themselves for the 45 Lap Grand Prix of Norway.
Duarte Benavente suffered irreparable damage during Saturday that saw him forced to withdraw from the competition. Rookie Racer Roope Virtanen suffered engine gremlins all weekend and was also forced to withdraw.
So, as the start time loomed closer, sixteen drivers lined up for the start of the Grand Prix of Norway.
As the lights went out for the start of the race, each driver hurtled towards the first turn. From his pole position, the defending World Champion had one thing on his mind, and that was claiming the chequered flag.
The drivers all got off to a clean start with Rashed Al Qemzi taking the race lead. Hot on his wake was team mate Mansoor Al Mansoori. Who was under early pressure from Mathilda Wiberg.
Seven laps in and Norway’s hero Tobias Munthe-Kaas hooked at the bottom turn and saw himself laughed over the buoy and right in the path of British Driver Mette Bjerknes who with nowhere to go collided with the Norwegian and forced both of them to retire.
At the other end of the course disaster for Championship leader Matthew Palfreyman, who lost his Propshaft and was left to be towed back to the pontoon and watch the rest of the race from the pontoon.
Under the yellow flag, the drivers all bunched up to make their move as soon as the Green flag was dropped to signal the restart.
From the restart, Rashed Al Qemzi soared home to claim the Grand Prix of Norway and, in doing so, claim the 2024 Championship lead.
A battle ensued for 4th place with Vilmunen and Edgaras Riabko going head to head in battle to fight for the position. Vilmunen held the Lithuanian off for a couple of laps, but suffering with a trim problem, he struggled, and seeing his opportunity, Riabko passed the rookie.
Meanwhile Mathilda Wiberg continued to pile on the pressure to try and catch Al Mansoori in the silver medal position but the Abu Dhabi driver drove a fantastic defence race and claimed the Silver Podium place finish behind his team mate.
In the last few laps Sweden’s Mathilda looked set for her first podium finish when she got caught in dirty water on the bottom turn and hooked in front of the harbour crowds.
The Swede recovered quickly, but Edgaras Riabko in 4th was now neck and neck with her, and one false move would see her lose the Bronze medal position. Remaining calm and collected, she managed to keep ahead of Riabko to secure her first podium finish.
We caught up with the Grand Prix of Norway Winner Rashed Al Qemzi following prize giving that saw the Silverware awarded in front of thousands of race fans.
Here’s what Al Qemzi had to say “I’m back! and now I focus on my fifth World Title. Once I was out in front, the rest was easy. I just had to remain focused to take the chequered flag.”
He continued “I have taken the lead in the Championship by one point, and now we look to build on that with another win at the next round.”
Abu Dhabi Team Manager Guido Cappellini summed up the teams performance in just one word “Perfect!”
The Teams’ attentions turn to the Grand Prix of Lithuania, where we will be back in action in Klaipeda on the 16th & 17th August.
