Tønsberg, Norway: Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi powered his way to an emphatic victory in the Grand Prix of Norway, boosting his challenge for a fifth UIM F2 World Championship crown.
The defending champion completed a dominant race weekend in Tønsberg with an impeccable start-to-finish win. His Abu Dhabi teammate, Mansoor Al Mansoori, secured second place, helping Al Qemzi take the lead in this year’s title race.
After their one-two success in qualifying, the two Emirati drivers delivered another perfect team result, highlighting Al Qemzi’s undeniable pedigree and reminding everyone that Al Mansoori is a serious contender.
Starting impressively from pole position, Al Qemzi looked in complete control as he opened up a comfortable five-second lead from Al Mansoori, with Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg in third. However, a yellow flag halted the race after seven laps.
Moments later, Britain’s early championship leader, Matthew Palfreyman, was towed out of the Grand Prix before the restart. But there were no problems for the four-time champion, Al Qemzi, who quickly rebuilt a commanding lead.
He cruised home with more than five seconds to spare over his teammate, who was never seriously challenged by Wiberg as she settled for the remaining podium place.
It was a flawless race weekend for Al Qemzi, who had followed up his Friday night match race victory by setting the fastest time in Saturday’s free practice before clinching pole position in the qualifying shootout.
This victory marked Al Qemzi’s maiden career win in Norway and could be a pivotal moment as he aims to become the first driver to win the F2 world title five times.
He had finished third in Tønsberg on his way to his first F2 crown in 2017, and two years later, he was champion again after four race victories and a second place in Norway. A third world title arrived in 2021 following a double Grand Prix success in Portugal, and three more race victories last year secured Al Qemzi his fourth world title with one round to spare.
Team Abu Dhabi will take nothing for granted as they focus on further improvements ahead of round three in Klaipėda, Lithuania, from August 16-17. September will bring the Italian Grand Prix, followed by a doubleheader in Portugal.
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