Marszalek finishes on top in Kopiko Grand Prix of Indonesia

LAKE TOBA: The Strømøy Racing team’s Bartek Marszalek took the lead in the 2023 UIM F1H2O World Championship after winning the opening sprint race at the Kopiko Grand Prix of Indonesia.

In front of an estimated 100,000 spectators who lined the shores of the world’s largest volcanic lake in northern Sumatra, a fierce wind ruined the chance of race two being completed in the afternoon and the pole was able to wrap up a successful weekend with a five-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

Kopiko Grand Prix of Indonesia – Race 1

The Strømøy Racing team’s Bartek Marszalek followed up his first ever pole position by securing a maiden victory on his 50th race start when he led Kopiko Grand Prix of Indonesia race one from start-to-finish.

Team Abu Dhabi’s Shaun Torrente missed out on pole position after his fastest lap was disqualified in the morning’s BRM Qualifying session and the American looked set to make amends by snatching a last-gasp victory.

The defending world champion trailed Marszalek until the last few tours of the 18-lap sprint race and, when the action resumed after a late yellow flag, Torrente managed to pass the pole but was deemed to have made a jump start and was later handed a one-lap penalty that dropped him to ninth position.

A delighted Marszalek said: “What a fantastic feeling to win the race. I really enjoyed it. The weather was perfect this morning for qualifying and we had a lot of spectators around the shore. So many smiles give me extra horse power. I feel very good in the boat.”

The Sharjah team’s Sami Seliö finished second overall and the Victory Team’s returning Erik Stark rounded off the podium places. When Jonas Andersson dropped back with technical issues over the last couple of laps to finish eighth, China CTIC team’s Peter Morin and Torrente’s team-mate Thani Al-Qemzi stormed through to claim fourth and fifth positions.

2023 Kopiko Grand Prix of Indonesia – Race 1 result: 1. Bartek Marszalek (POL), Strømøy Racing Team; 2. Sami Seliö (FIN), Sharjah Team; 3. Erik Stark (SWE), Victory Team; 4. Peter Morin (FRA), China CTIC Team; 5. Thani Al-Qemzi (UAE), Team Abu Dhabi; 6. Brent Dillard (USA), China CTIC Team; 7. Filip Roms (FIN), Gillman Racing; 8. Jonas Andersson (SWE), Team Sweden; 9. Shaun Torrente (USA), Team Abu Dhabi; 10. Ahmed Al-Fahim (UAE), Victory Team; 11. Alexandre Bourgeot (FRA), Maverick Racing; 12. Alberto Comparato (ITA), Comparato F1; 13. Cédric Deguisne (FRA), Maverick Racing; 14. Kalle Viippo (FIN), Team Sweden; 15. Duarte Benavente (POR), F1 Atlantic Team; 16. Ferdinand Zandbergen (NLD), Sharjah Team; 17. Ben Jelf (GBR), F1 Atlantic Team; 18. Marit Strømøy (NOR), Strømøy Racing team; 19. Brock Cohen (AUS), Comparato F1; 20. Alec Weckström (FIN), Gillman Racing.

Kopiko Grand Prix of Indonesia – Race 2

Starting positions for race two were determined by the finishing order of race one and, therefore, Marszalek, Seliö and Stark lined up in first, second and third positions on the start pontoon for the second 18-lap race in the presence of Joko Widodo, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, and a large government entourage. Torrente was down in ninth on the revised circuit after his jump start in race one.

The wind had strengthened by the time the race was green-flagged and white horses were prevalent on the lake. There was an inevitable delay while Race Director Luis Miguel Ribero decided whether the race could go ahead.

From the start, racers began to slow and withdraw from the course and only 11 drivers remained on the water after three laps when the chequered flag was raised to abandon the competition.

After the awarding ceremony the F1H2O World Championship flag was officially handed over from Mr. Yasonna Laoly, Minister of Law and Human Rights of Indonesia, to Mr. He Xiong, Mayor of the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, which will host round two of the UIM F1H2O World Championship on April 29-30.

2023 UIM F1H2O World Championship – latest positions: 1. Bartek Marszalek (POL), Strømøy Racing Team, 20pts; 2. Sami Seliö (FIN), Sharjah Team, 15pts; 3. Erik Stark (SWE), Victory Team, 12pts; 4. Peter Morin (FRA), China CTIC Team, 9pts; 5. Thani Al-Qemzi (UAE), Team Abu Dhabi, 7pts; 6. Brent Dillard (USA), China CTIC Team, 5pts ; 7. Filip Roms (FIN), Gillman Racing, 4pts; 8. Jonas Andersson (SWE), Team Sweden, 3pts; 9. Shaun Torrente (USA), Team Abu Dhabi, 2pts; 10. Ahmed Al-Fahim (UAE), Victory Team, 1pt.