DUBAI (UAE): After taking victory in Friday’s Emirates Dubai Duty Free Grand Prix, Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani, Steve Curtis, Ali Al Neama and Matteo Nicolini dramatically withdrew from yesterday’s second race of the Sky Dive Dubai Grand Prix.
Along with the crew of Fendi Racing 10, the decision was taken to boycott the race on the grounds that the racecourse had been changed at the 11th hour to ‘suit’ the Victory 3 boat.
“I just had the feeling that this may happen,” said a disappointed Sheikh Hassan, President of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) and driver of Spirit of Qatar 96.
“The course was changed 30 minutes before the race was supposed to start and that is clearly unfair. The rules clearly state that all boats must be at the start pontoon at 2.30pm and, at that time, Victory 3 was still in the pits having the gear ratios changed to suit the new course with no penalties imposed at all,” he said.
“We all want to race on a level playing field and this was very clearly unfair. We have now decided that the Spirit of Qatar Team will not now participate in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next weekend,” he added.
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