Torrente Clinches Third World Title on Dramatic Showdown Sunday in Sharjah

Shaun Torrente claimed his third UIM F1H2O World Championship on December 18, 2022, surviving a race-ending collision in Sharjah to take the title after Jonas Andersson retired from the lead with mechanical trouble ten laps from the finish.

The American had already destroyed his Team Abu Dhabi boat in a spectacular coming together with Bartek Marszalek and team-mate Thani Al-Qemzi on lap ten – an incident that ended Al-Qemzi’s own title hopes. Torrente’s fate then rested on Andersson failing to finish higher than seventh. When the Swede pulled out after 28 laps, the championship was decided.

The race itself was won by Philippe Chiappe, who had announced his retirement from top-flight competition before the weekend. The Frenchman took the lead when Andersson withdrew and crossed the line 2.73 seconds ahead of Marszalek, with Alberto Comparato third. It was Chiappe’s 10th career GP victory and his first since Abu Dhabi in 2017, in a career spanning 23 years at the top of the sport.

“This was a special day and a special emotion with me with the last race and the victory. It’s a dream. This is a high level on my story. It is a fantastic feeling to finish the season with this victory. I started in Sharjah 23 years ago, my first race, and my last race was in Sharjah and I win the race. It is a perfect day and I am very happy for the team. It is the end of the story for my career but it’s a good day!” – Philippe Chiappe

“The reason I am very emotional is that we had a crash today. Bartek didn’t do it on purpose. It was a mistake. I crashed and Thani got caught in the crash. Honestly, I was five feet from being in the hospital. Five feet away from not standing here talking to you, not World Champion, nothing. And now it’s okay and I am the World Champion!” – Shaun Torrente

The Race

Sixteen of the 18 boats lined up for the 38-lap race on Khalid Lagoon. Sami Selio, who had qualified fourth, could not start after his boat was damaged in qualifying; Marit Strømøy also withdrew after reporting a lack of power. Paolo Longhi did not start.

Andersson made a superb start to snatch the lead from Chiappe into the first buoy and had extended his advantage to 4.92 seconds by the end of lap three. The race was yellow-flagged on lap six when Filip Roms retired with engine issues, removing the gap Andersson had built.

Racing resumed on lap nine. Andersson drove clear again, but there was a dramatic collision on the far side of the course – Torrente made contact with Marszalek and Al-Qemzi immediately hit the wreckage of his team-mate’s stricken boat. Al-Qemzi’s title hopes were finished. Torrente’s boat was badly damaged but he continued, his fate now dependent entirely on Andersson’s result.

The race was yellow-flagged again on lap 17 when Ferdinand Zandbergen barrel-rolled his Sharjah Team boat, and a third restart followed on lap 21. Andersson led by 5.09 seconds with 11 laps remaining when mechanical trouble ended his race after 28 laps, handing the lead to Chiappe. Duarte Benavente retired on lap 35, but Chiappe held on to win from Marszalek and Comparato.

Alec Weckström finished fourth and clinched the Rookie of the Year award. Ben Jelf of the F1 Atlantic Team finished seventh to score his first UIM F1H2O World Championship points.

“Boat broken, so no chance to race. We never give up but now we can do nothing. Cheering for Ferdinand now. The positive thing is that both team boats were in the top six in qualifying.” – Sami Selio

Race Result

2022 UIM F1H2O World Championship – Final Standings

2022 UIM F1H2O Pole Position Trophy – Final Standings