Torrente Takes Pole but Trask Steals the Show in Cagliari

Shaun Torrente claimed his 13th career pole position at the Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy on Saturday morning, but the story of qualifying in Cagliari belonged to Grant Trask, the Australian who arrived at the Sharjah Team without a seat just months ago and came within 0.050 seconds of the greatest result of his career.

Torrente’s 42.533 in the 10-minute Q3 shootout put the defending world champion on pole for Sunday’s Grand Prix, his 51st top-six qualifying finish in 70 starts. But it was Trask, in his sixth season on the UIM F1H2O World Championship, who had the paddock talking.

The 37-year-old had never sat in the Sharjah Team boat before Friday morning. He spent qualifying working through a setup that required overnight adjustment to the steering position and throttle to suit his needs as a right-leg amputee. By the time Q3 arrived he was within fractions of the fastest man on the water.

Trask’s path to that front row of the grid has a particular edge to it. Last year he raced for Team Sweden alongside Jonas Andersson. When Andersson disbanded Team Sweden in the off-season and moved to Team Abu Dhabi, Trask needed a new drive. Sharjah offered him the third seat. On Saturday, while Andersson failed to advance beyond Q2, Trask qualified sixth overall and pushed Torrente harder than anyone.

Abu Dhabi Shut Out

The biggest shock of the session was the complete elimination of Team Abu Dhabi from Q3. Erik Stark was towed off the circuit in Q1 after his engine locked up on the back section of the course. Rashed Al Qemzi, 15th in Q1, also went no further. Andersson, a three-time world champion with 17 career poles, fell to tenth in Q2 with a 44.257 and was eliminated.

All three Abu Dhabi boats were out before the shootout. Sharjah filled the void, finishing second, third and sixth in qualifying.

Q1: Wyatt and Arand Set the Pace

Arand went quickest in Q1 with a 44.466, Wyatt second on 44.896 – both times posted before the dramas that followed. Stark was towed in by jet ski after his engine locked up. Arand himself stopped on circuit with his canopy up and looked finished, only to recover and go on to post the third-fastest time of the entire qualifying session.

Torrente ran a measured 45.076 in Q1, conserving the boat while others pushed. Twelve drivers advanced to Q2: Torrente, Morin, Wyatt, Arand, Trask, Marszalek, Selio, Comparato, Weckstrom, Andersson, Jelf and Dillard.

Q2: Torrente Moves to the Front

Torrente came alive in Q2, posting 43.312 to lead the session by 0.181 seconds from Morin. Wyatt third on 43.618, Arand fourth on 43.643. Trask fifth and Marszalek sixth – those two advancing to Q3 ahead of Selio, Comparato, Weckstrom and Andersson.

Andersson, in his first event as a Team Abu Dhabi driver after years running his own operation, could not find the pace. He ended Q2 in tenth, 0.945 seconds off Torrente’s best. His day was over.

Q3: Torrente, Wyatt and the Sharjah Sweep

Torrente came out of the pontoon first in Q3, found traffic on his opening laps and lost two to three tenths in the final corner on his first flying effort. Wyatt briefly led with a 42.727 before Torrente responded with a 42.533 to take pole with five minutes remaining.

Arand, who had looked finished in Q1, recovered to post 42.808 for third. Morin fourth on 42.922. Marszalek fifth and Trask sixth, separated by just 0.050 seconds. Trask’s fastest lap was deleted by the stewards for impeding.

Torrente’s pole is his 13th of a career he has confirmed will end at the conclusion of this season. The Sprint races start at 15:05 local time, with the Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy on Sunday at the same time.