The Portuguese Duarte Benavente (F1 Atlantic Team) took the podium this Sunday at the Grand Prix of Portugal Formula 1 Motonáutica, held in the Arade estuary, in Portimão, finishing in 3rd place. The race was won by French driver Philipe Chiappe (CTCI F1 Shenzhen China Team), world champion in title.
Duarte Benavente, who is the only Portuguese in F1 H2O, achieved his best classification ever, despite having finished the 49 laps of the Arade circuit with one of the winner.
With the wind that blew in the previous days to force compress the entire GP program this Sunday, in the morning to pole position it had been guaranteed by the American Shaun Torrente (Victory Team). Duarte Benavente took 6th place on the grid, but due to another rider's engine problems, he eventually dropped out of 5th in the race. Torrente ended up giving up in the race, with engine problems.
The Portuguese pilot said, at the end of the race: «It was a difficult race, but the boat had a good behavior, allowing it to make an excellent third place».
Philippe Chiappe, who had already won in Portimão last year, spent 12,88 seconds less than Finnish Sami Selio (Mad Croc Baba Racing), who was 2nd.
As the Portuguese GP was the opening event of the F1 H2O World Championship for the 2017 season, the classification is led by Frenchman Philippe Chiappe (42 points). The Finnish Sami Selio (15 points) is 2nd, while the 3rd place is occupied by the Portuguese Duarte Benavente (12 points).
Grand Prix Classification of Portugal:
1. Phillipe Chiappe, Fra (CTCI F1 Shenzhen China Team), 50 laps
2. Sami Selio, Fin (Mad Croc Baba Racing), at 12,88 seconds
3. Duarte Benavente, By (F1 Atlantic Team), one lap
4. Alex Carella, Ita (Team Abu Dhabi), one lap
5. Bartek Marszalek, Pol (Blaze F1 Team), two laps
6. Cedric Deguisne, Fra (Maverick F1 Team), two laps
7. Grant Trask, Aus (F1 Atlantic Team), two laps
8. Erik Stark, Sue (Team Sweden), two laps
9. Peter Morin, Fra (CTIC F1 China Team), three laps
10. Filip Roms, Fin (Mad Croc Baba Racing), three laps
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