H2O Racing officials and members of the Sharjah International Marine Sports Club co-hosted an official press conference at the Corniche Hotel ahead of this weekend’s Road to Sharjah-Grand Prix of Sharjah, the final round of the 2023 UIM F1H2O World Championmship.

Thursday morning’s press conference was attended by H2O Racing’s founder Nicoló di San Germano, His Excellency Khalid Jasim Al-Midfa, Chairman of the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority and Sharjah International Marine Sports Club and UIM Council member, His Excellency Ahmed Obaid Al-Qaseer (Vice-Chairman Sharjah International Marine Sports Club), two-time World Champion Jonas Andersson, the Sharjah Team’s Ferdinand Zandbergen and Emirati drivers, Rashed Al-Qemzi, Thani Al-Qamzi and Ahmad Al-Fahim.

Nicoló di San Germano said: “Under the leadership of Khalid (Jasim Al-Midfa) we have been here for many years. Back in 2000, for example, the race was on Khalid Lagoon but the surrounding landscape was very different. We are proud to be witnesses to the unbelievable growth of Sharjah and also the growth of F1H2O racing. Thirty years of racing in the UAE, 299 F1H2O Grand Prix organised and 50 of them in the UAE. That shows the importance of the UAE Federation to the UIM.

“I want to congratulate my friend Khalid for his very recent appointment to the board of the international federation. It is well deserved. The UAE is an important strategic partner for powerboating all over the world. We expect a lot of delegates to visit the race this weekend from Indonesia, Vietnam, Albania and from Egypt. I always say, year-on-year, that Sharjah is the university for F1H2O racing organisers.

“We talk about sustainability in global sport and Sharjah was the first host in our sport to be active in this with the establishing of a tree plantation in Sharjah. We are very proud today to be going with the teams and some members of the media to see the plantation and how it has developed. We offset the CO2 that we produce by planting trees. We have been doing this in Sharjah for many years.

“Further afield we have developed two water wheels and we are looking at future energy. Sport can be research for a better future and improvements.”

On-water action gets underway with a one-hour extra free practice session from 14.00hrs on Friday afternoon.