F1H2O Shanghai: Weckström wins, Arand takes title lead

Alec Weckström won the Grand Prix of Shanghai on Monday 5 October, the third round of the F1H2O world championship, completing a weekend sweep of pole position, Sprint Race 1 and the Grand Prix for Victory Team. In second, Stefan Arand (Sharjah Team) moves to the top of the standings with one round to go.

A 45-lap race with three yellow flags

Weckström converted pole into the lead at the first turn, ahead of Shaun Torrente and Arand. The first yellow flag came on lap 2, when Brent Dillard (China CTIC Team) flipped following Rashed Al Qemzi through his spray, wiping out Weckström's lead of almost three seconds.

At the restart Torrente went for the inside at the same turn. Weckström had taken it wide, there was not enough room and the two team-mates made contact. Torrente spun out and was classified as retiring on lap 16; Weckström's boat was undamaged.

With 16 laps to go, Weckström made contact with the lapped boat of Ben Jelf (Atlantic Team). Jelf, who had earlier slowed to close his canopy, retired when his boat began taking on water. Weckström kept the lead. A third yellow flag followed when Rusty Wyatt (Sharjah Team) stopped with a mechanical problem.

Only nine boats finished. Arand, nursing a broken propeller, began the final lap 1.096 s behind and crossed the line 2.243 s back. Grant Trask was third and Jonas Andersson fourth after starting last following an engine change.

The title goes to the final round

• Stefan Arand now leads, 9 points ahead of Trask.
• Alec Weckström and Shaun Torrente, a four-time world champion, are tied on 50 points, 10 points off the lead.
• Torrente, who led the standings before Shanghai, won Sprint Race 2 on Sunday but leaves 10 points behind.

The finale takes place in Sharjah, from 18 to 20 December. The four drivers still in the title fight arrive separated by ten points at most.

A contact for the officials

After the race, Jelf said Weckström had hit a wave and bounced into his boat, while leaving the decision to the officials. According to him, Weckström came over to apologise and shake his hand.