Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi reclaimed the top spot in the 2024 UIM F2 World Championship on Sunday, securing a decisive win at the Grand Prix of Italy. The four-time F2 world champion dominated the race from start to finish, earning his second Grand Prix victory of the season, closely followed by his teammate Mansoor Al Mansoori, mirroring their earlier one-two finish in Norway. Al Qemzi now leads the championship by eight points over Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg, who finished third in San Nazzaro, with Lithuania’s Edgaras Riabko trailing by another point after his fifth-place finish.
Aiming to become the first five-time F2 champion, the Emirati driver is strongly positioned to make history with the final two race weekends in Portugal later this month. Meanwhile, Al Mansoori’s steady performance has boosted him to fourth in the standings, keeping his hopes alive for a top-three finish in the championship. After securing pole position ahead of his teammate on Saturday, Al Qemzi maintained his control, achieving back-to-back victories in San Nazzaro. Despite multiple interruptions, including yellow flags due to loose turn buoys and a crash involving Norway’s Frode Sundsdal, Al Qemzi remained unaffected and completed the race with flair, showcasing the potential to surpass Sweden’s Erik Stark’s record of four titles.
However, Al Qemzi must stay vigilant as both Wiberg and Riabko are capable of significant results in Peso da Régua on September 16, potentially setting up a thrilling conclusion to the championship in Vila Velha de Ródão a week later.
