Despite setting the fastest time in pre-race practice 'Pole' contest for the penultimate round in Korea, Italian Guido Cappellini, who has won the world Formula I title eight times in the last nine years, has conceded defeat in the 2004 series.
Despite setting the fastest time in the pre-race practice ‘Pole’ contest for the penultimate round in Korea, Italian Guido Cappellini, who has won the world Formula 1 title eight times in the last nine years, has conceded defeat in the 2004 series. Although finishing second in the race itself, American Scott Gillman, who came third, now hold an unassailable points lead.
Gillman has won five of the nine rounds held so far. These victories plus three thirds gives him a total score of 136 points. Italian Francesco Cantando lies second on the championship table with 115 points and even if he wins the final round without Gillman being placed the American still takes the title by a single point. Cappellini lies in third well down the list with 83 points.
The interesting aspect of the Korean Grand Prix was that a new race format, likely to be adopted in 2005, was tried.
Known as match racing, Formula 1 promotor, Nicolo di San Germano is enthusiastic it will benefit the series.
“This type of racing is very exciting and basically opens the field to many other drivers having little chance of taking top positions to do really well. It became clear in Korea that the shorter, wider boats are best suited for this format. However skilful racers such as Gillman and Cantando in their longer hulls clearly can adapt to any racing.”
