Duarte Benavente was ranked seventh in the Grand Prix of Portugal/Algarve F1 Motonáutica, a race that took place this weekend in Portimão, in the waters of the River Arade, and was won by North American Shaun Torrente.
The Portuguese pilot, who plays for the F1 Atlantic Team and is the only Portuguese representative in the F1 Motonáutica world championship, failed to repeat last year's podium climb, but earned four points for the championship accounts.
This year, in addition to competition winner Shaun Torrente, the podium was occupied by Thani Al Qemzi, from the United Arab Emirates and by Frenchman Philippe Chiappe, winner in 2017. The three drivers collected, respectively, 20, 15 and 12 points.
The final race in the Arade estuary, in front of the city of Portimão, was even threatened, because of bad weather – rain and thunderstorm – that was felt during the afternoon. But the sun soon opened again, to the relief of riders, teams… and the public.
This was the first race of the 2018 edition of the World Championship. After Portimão, the 19 riders from nine teams will also pass in cities such as London (United Kingdom), Evian (France), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) or Sharjah (also in the UAE).
Each of the events provides two different shows, in the F1 modalities, but also in F4. This was the ninth time, in the 36-year history of the Motonáutica F1 World Championship, that the opening of the season has taken place in Portimão, which has already hosted 17 major awards.
The race was removed from the city of Barlavento Algarvio for some years, but returned in 2016. This year, the Sul Informação steve in a behind-the-scenes report, making known a little more about the circus of F1 H2O.
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