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Alex Carella storms to victory at Grand Prix of Norway

Sport360 staff

16:41 04/08/2018

The Victory Team’s strategy of promoting four-time F1 world champion Alex Carella into the cockpit paid early dividends as the Italian powered his way to an outright triumph in the Match Race honours at the EDH Grand Prix of Norway.

With neither of the Team Abu Dhabi drivers, including the 2017 UIM F2 world champion Rashid Al Qamzi entering the race, it was Victory Team’s Carella showing the way while clocking a top speed of 187kph in the speed run in his first appearance for the team in blue this season.

Competing in Norway’s oldest city of Tønsberg, Carella defeated home favourite Ola Petterson in the final with his run of 1 minute, 13.45 seconds much better than his Swedish opponent’s 1:13.99 minutes. Earlier in the semi-finals, Carella had defeated Norway’s Tobias Munthe-Kaas, while Petterson had got the better of American Brent Dillard.

Carella was pleased with the fine showing from the Dubai-based team that has so far gone without any major successes this season.

“We have a good package which really worked well for us today,” Carella admitted after his win.

“The package was really stable, so I think little by little we are getting there. What we achieved today is also important for team spirit following the team’s lows during the past few races,” he added.

Al Qamzi had consolidated his hold on the 2017 world title after finishing in third place on the famous fjord course before sealing a first-ever world crown for Team Abu Dhabi in the season-ending Grand Prix of Portugal in a shortened championship last autumn.

Italian Alberto Comparato is currently leading the championship after winning the Grand Prix of Lithuania in Kaunas – the opening round of the championship – at the end of May. He is pursued by Edgaras Riabko of Lithuania (15 points), Stefan Hagin on Germany (12) and defending champion Al Qamzi (9).

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