Abu Dhabi Powerboat Racing Team have confirmed that Rashed Al Qemzi and Mansoor Al Mansoori will continue racing for the Emirati outfit next season.
The announcement comes less than 48 hours after Jumaa Al Qubaisi was appointed team supervisor, marking the latest step in the team’s strategic planning for 2026.
Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club confirmed the contract extensions today, with Thani Al Qamzi, Executive Director of Abu Dhabi Team and Modern Events, describing the move as part of a broader vision for technical stability and international competitiveness.
F2 Dominance, F1H2O Transition
Rashed Al Qemzi’s five world championships in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024 place him amongst the most successful drivers in F2 history.
His sustained excellence across eight seasons made him the driver to beat, whilst Al Mansoori provided consistent support with third in 2022 and fifth in 2023.
Both drivers won F4-S world championships before stepping up to F2, with Al Qemzi claiming the title in 2016 and Al Mansoori in 2017.
Limited F1H2O Campaigns
Neither driver has established themselves in the UIM F1H2O World Championship despite occasional appearances.
Rashed Al Qemzi competed in select races between 2016 and 2018, returned in 2023 as a stand-in for cousin Thani Al Qemzi, and raced four times in 2024 as replacement for Alberto Comparato.
His 12 F1H2O starts produced a best finish of seventh, with technical problems ending his 2024 Chinese Grand Prix before it began.
Al Mansoori stepped up to F1H2O in August 2024 following Thani Al Qemzi’s retirement after 158 race starts and 25 years in the championship.
Team Abu Dhabi have not won an F1H2O world championship since Shaun Torrente took his third world title for the team in 2022.
No Technical Details Released
The team did not specify which championships the drivers will contest or what engine configurations they will race.
Team Abu Dhabi fielded entries in both the UIM F1H2O World Championship and UIM F2 World Championship.
The organisation indicated that further announcements regarding their 2026 racing programme will follow in due course.
Al Qubaisi will oversee race operations in his new role as team supervisor, working alongside Guido Cappellini who has delivered multiple world titles to Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club since 2015.
John Moore’s involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
