Qatar top podium in Portugal

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In one of the most exciting lap-to-lap duals in the past decade, Jay Price of the Qatar Team scored a popular first ever victory in the U.I.M. F1 World Championship.

Taking the chequers in front of thousands of race fans on the Arade River, Portugal, the Qatar team now sits at the head of the 2008 Championship leader board.

The 49-year old driver from New Orleans, Louisiana started fourth off the dock, but charged into second place after the first few laps. Price then set his sights on chasing down pole-sitter Ahmad Al Hameli of the Abu Dhabi Team.

The young driver held point for three quarters of the 55 lap event, until Price worked his way past at the chicane.

"I knew that my set-up was going to work in these calmer conditions," Price commented after stepping from the podium. "It was just a matter of time until I pressured Ahmad. Now we know we have a winning package and will work harder to keep the championship lead. This sure beats being back home fighting off spring storms in Louisiana!"

For Al Hameli, a it was a bitter sweet experience, knowing he was in a position to win for most of the afternoon, only to finish runner-up at the end. "I was working quite well in holding off Jay, until I felt a vibration and I realised my propeller was missing part of a blade.

From that point on I couldn't hold the pace," said Ahmad. "I'm happy though because this is by far my best result. I feel good about picking up 15 points and was happy with the boat."

More disappointed with the weekend was Qatar's Ahmad Al-Fayyad; forced to sit out the race meeting, as the UIM officials refused to recognise the races that he had run in the United States recently.

He was not permitted to start the Grand Prix on the grounds that he had not completed sufficient races to qualify for his upgraded racing licence.

"We got the boat sorted out and the UIM permitted Yousef to carry out the practice this morning, but the American races were not recognised for licence purposes," added Al-Jaidah.

"Now we will take him to Abu Dhabi next week, so that he gains more experience and fulfils the necessary criteria to return to F1 at round three in Finland next month."

Points leader coming into the race, Jonas Andersson of Sweden, ended his day in a hurry - retiring on the first lap. Another possible race winner, Thani Al Qamzi of the Abu Dhabi Team also saw his dreams of victory disappear in a puff of smoke as, when chasing his teammate into the first corner on the first lap, his engine gave up the ghost.

The next race on the calendar is scheduled for the first weekend of June in Lahti, Finland which will be the fourth running of the Grand Prix in the country.

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