Fujairah Grand Prix – POLE POSITION
NORWEGIAN SPIRIT ENDS POLLI’S WINNING STREAK
Gjelsten and Curtis set the pace to win Pole Position in Fujairah
Norway’s Bjorn Gjelsten and Britain’s Steve Curtis proved once again the all round qualities of their Lamborghini powered catamaran Spirit of Norway, as they powered to their first Pole Position win of the season ahead of tomorrow’s (Friday 30th) Grand Prix in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
On the flattest waters of the Championship so far this season, the Anglo Norwegian pairing produced their best time on their first run, covering the timed kilometre in 14.563 seconds at an average speed of 242.26km/h
Gjelsten who arrived in Fujairah only hours before he was due to climb aboard Spirit of Norway, was delighted with their performance beating rivals Jolly Motor who finished second and ending Edoardo Polli and defending World Champion Laith Pharaon’s winning streak with Bilba taking third place.
1ST Bjorn Gjelsten (Norway) & Steve Curtis (GB) – Spirit of Norway
14.563 seconds. Top speed 242.26km/h
Bjorn Gjelsten – "This performance is really a result of our overall long-term development of the boat which began last year. We have dialled it in well this year and have got to know the boat and which set of propellers and rudders to use and I also feel Steve did an excellent job today. I have always said that we have a boat that is good in both rough and calm conditions and we both have confidence in our own ability. What is important to us in the race is that we finish in a good position whatever the conditions. "
2nd Lamberto Leoni (Monaco) & Massimo Lippi (Italy) – Jolly Motor
14.761 seconds. Top speed 239.01 km/h
Massimo Lippi – "I am happy with today’s run – I like the Pole run it’s my speciality but the team asked me to take it easy. The boat is running well, but I am not sure yet if we will change the set-up for the race. Set-up will be so important. There are three boats with similar speed and I think the two tight 180 degree turns will be all important. "
3rd Edoardo Polli (Italy) & Laith Pharaon (Saudi Arabia) – Bilba
15.050 seconds. Top speed 234.42 km/h
Edoardo Polli – "Tomorrow I win the race as I didn’t win the Pole – this is a good omen. I think we ran slightly too short propellers today and couldn’t do more than we did with the props we had. If the conditions stay like this we will make a propeller change, but the race will be interesting. Although rough conditions are tough on the gears, it is sometimes lighter on the engine but tomorrow we could be running flat out all the time which for sure will be tough on the engine. "