Victory focussed and set to repeat past arendal successes

Victory Team will be looking to increase their overall championship lead in Arendal in this Sunday's (July 15) Norwegian Grand Prix and at the same time extend an unprecedented record of success at a venue that has seen the team experience the highs, lows, drama and emotion of Class 1 competition.

Victory has without doubt an enviable record in Arendal and one that has made the team one of the most popular that competes here. The first Class 1 race held in Arendal was in 1994 and Victory made an immediate impression with Saeed Al Tayer and Felix Serralles winning and setting the tone for future events.

In the seven year's of racing at Arendal Victory Team has appeared on the podium every year amassing four race wins and three second and third placed finishes. In 1996 they completed the first of their current eight clean sweeps of the podium with Al Tayer and Serralles leading home team-mates Khalfan Harib and Ed Colyer and Ali Nasser and Randy Scism.

For Saeed Al Tayer especially the venue holds a bag of mixed emotions. This year he will be looking to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Time Trial Championship and make it three race wins in eight races in Arendal. In 1999 Al Tayer and Serralles rescued the pride of the UIM fleet beating America's Matt Alcone in what was then the Pole Position, with a blistering final run to win and at the same time setting the fastest ever run over the measured kilometre of 259.68kmh.

But Al Tayer's most vivid memory is of 1998 when his boat was completely destroyed after bursting into flames on the final lap. "I have experienced all kinds of emotions in Arendal - the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. I have a strange love hate relationship with the place. I love the venue and the people and hate the surprises the water throws at you," said Al Tayer. "Of course you reflect on the past but when you go out to race you are focussed on what's ahead - literally the 5 to 10 metres in front of you and the boats immediately around you. You have to be cautious. The waters are very unpredictable, you must expect the unexpected." A win for Al Tayer in the Time Trial will move him onto 14 wins and ahead of the absent Edoardo Polli, who destroyed his race boat, Highlander, in the German Grand Prix, and a race win will give him 16 in total, equalling those of Victory Team, Managing Director, Khalfan Harib.

Ali Nasser, Victory 1, however has other ideas hoping he can make it two wins in a row in the championship and his second consecutive win in Arendal.

"I am very pleased to be back in Arendal. It has good memories for me and I always feel lucky here, " commented Ali. "It is a difficult race and can be confusing when deciding which propellers to use. There are really two races in one because of the varying conditions inside and outside the fjord. It is most important for us to get to the finish and to drive to the conditions. We have a very good boat and I think at the very least we would expect to finish in the top three." For both pairings in the Victory attack the Arendal course presents the most demanding race of the year. The 7 lap, 115Nm course is unique with a potentially rough 'offshore' leg run down the outside of the island of Tromoy and a fast inside leg on flat water inside the fjord. Ali Al Qama making his Arendal race debut alongside Ali Nasser in Victory 1 believes his Class 2 experience will be a great benefit to him on Sunday. "I have run on similar courses and conditions in Class 2 in Abu Dhabi and this experience will help me. Of course the outside leg here is the key and we will probably be conservative outside the island and take our chances inside the fjord," he said, adding. "What is important for both of us is to keep a tight grip on our championship lead. We will probably look at an intermediate set-up for the race and of course will be going for maximum points. But if our set-up is not right we will drive to its optimum to ensure we get as many points as possible." Those looking to halt Victory's push for their third straight world title and sixth overall win include Bjorn Gjelsten and Steve Curtis, Spirit of Norway. The Anglo-Norwegian pairing who crashed out of the German Grand Prix will race in Arendal after frantic efforts to repair their boat. For Gjelsten and Curtis a win is a must if they are to stand any chance of challenging Victory.

Erik Kirkedelen and Massimo Lippi, Jolly Motor, currently third in the championship behind the two Victory boats is another serious challenger to the Dubai team. An improved race set-up last time out clearly demonstrated that they are once again a team to be reckoned with. Two teams who might spring a surprise on Sunday are World of Cars and Jotun. Both will be hoping for rougher conditions, which will suit the heavier Seatek powered Diesel boats.

But before Sundays race Victory are focussing on Saturday's Time Trial and there are concerns amongst the team. "Personally I think the course is too tight," commented Al Tayer. "I would enjoy the opportunity to run a straight course again. Here in Arendal the course is tight especially the turns. But at Victory we have the tools to adapt to any situation and will sort out the course and produce a strong performance." There was relatively little testing activity on the water with neither Victory boat going out and those that ventured out indicated big seas with swells over 6ft. Asked if he wasn't testing because it was Friday 13, Al Tayer replied, " Yes I am a little superstitious." and grinned.