Team Abu Dhabi’s Rashed Al Qemzi faced a setback in the 2024 UIM F2 World Championship as Sweden’s Mathilda Wiberg claimed victory at the Grand Prix of Lithuania. Edgaras Riabko from Lithuania took over the lead in the championship race with a narrow two-point advantage over Al Qemzi, who finished in fourth place. Despite this, Al Qemzi remains a strong contender for his fifth driver’s title, with three more rounds to go in Italy and Portugal, his preferred race venues.
Al Qemzi’s teammate Mansoor Al Mansoori made an impressive move from 17th to ninth place, securing championship points in the third round. Wiberg’s win was aided by the misfortunes of the first-round winner Matthew Palfreyman and Jarno Vilmunen, who both faced unexpected exits during the race. Palfreyman, who started from pole position, looked set for victory before his timing belt broke, while Vilmunen ran out of fuel two laps from the finish.
Following the Grand Prix, Giacomo Sacchi from Monaco received a one-lap penalty for a race infringement, changing the final standings. Team Abu Dhabi anticipates better results in the upcoming round in San Nazzaro and the final races in Portugal. Al Qemzi, with five career race wins in Portugal, aims to add to his four F2 world titles, including a memorable win from pole position at Peso da Régua last year.
The upcoming back-to-back Grand Prix races in Portugal will be crucial for Al Qemzi as he seeks to defend his title and secure another championship victory. With a strong performance in Italy and Portugal, Al Qemzi has the opportunity to reclaim his lead in the championship race and solidify his position as one of the top F2 drivers in the world. Team Abu Dhabi’s strategic training base in Europe under team manager Guido Cappellini has prepared them for success in the remaining rounds of the championship.
