Class 1 - Victory 1 Winner Maritimo Podium Double

After cancelling race one for the BMW Norwegian Grand Prix due to bad weather, the second race went on as scheduled seeing Victory 1 rookie driver, Mohammed Al Mehairi, to his first Class 1 win in just his second outing.

Maritimo 11 was rewarded for a stunning opening lap with second place, to take their first Class 1 podium finish, with other team boat Maritimo 12 giving further cause for celebration, taking their first podium in third place.

Championship leaders, Fazza and Qatar 96, both suffered misfortunes; Fazza stopping due to technical problems, with Qatar 96's race ending in spectacular fashion, barrel-rolling on lap seven.

The Victory duo of Vicory 1 lived up to the promise they showed in the morning's practice and qualifying session, setting the fastest time to take their first pole position, with a richly deserved win.

However, Victory 1 did not have it all their own way, when Fazza showed their pace to take the lead from their team-mates on lap six. But a technical problem ended their hopes, with Victory 1 going on to take a sensational win. The win is the ninth of Sanchez's career, but he was quick to give credit to his pilot Al Mehairi and his crew. The win takes Victory 1 to the top of the Championship standings after two rounds.

Maritimo 11 made a flying start to the race, moving up from seventh place on the second row to third at the end of the first lap. They held position until lap six when they were passed by Qatar 96, who then handed back the place a lap later, barrel-rolling in stunning fashion right in front of Maritimo 11.

Maritimo 12, made it a double celebration for the Australian team grabbing a surprising third place.

Foresti & Suardi - Roscioli Hotels' Giampaolo Montavoci and Giampiero Soave, racing together for the first time in five years, produced an impressive showing to finish in fourth place, equalling Montavoci's best ever finish in Arendal, and moving the Italian pairing into third place in the championship standings.

Despite making a good start, moving up from fourth at the start to second place at the first corner and then passing their team-mates to take the lead on lap six, an electrical problem on lap 12 ended Fazza 3 hopes of a second consecutive win, eventually finishing fifth to salvage valuable points.

For the Spirit of Qatar Team it was a race to forget. Both Qatar 95 and Qatar 96 got squeezed at the start to lose ground and it went from bad to worse, when, on lap seven, Qatar 96 barrel-rolled. On lap 11 a blown engine did for team-mates Abdullah Al-Sulaiti and Matteo Nicolini in Qatar 95 to compound a very disappointing weekend for the team.

Welmax's defending European Champion, also had a frustrating race, first throwing a propeller blade and then a technical problem on lap 13 ending their race. While Giorgioffshore, were the first to retire after an engine failure prevented them from continuing.

BMW Norwegian Grand Prix - Results

1. Victory 1 - M Al Mehairi (UAE) / JM Sanchez (FRA) - 58.17.06

2. Maritimo 11 - T Barry-Cotter (AUS) / PV Nilsen (NOR) + 1.28.95

3. Maritimo 12 - G Manuzzi (SMR) / P McGrath (NZL) + 02.07.17

4. Foresti & Suardi - Roscioli Hotels 8 - G Soave (ITA) / G Montavoci (ITA) + 1 Lap

5. Fazza 3 - A Al Zafeen (UAE) / N Bin Hendi (UAE) + 3 Laps

6. Welmax 90 - K O Selmer (NOR) / J Tandberg (NOR) + 5 Laps

Qatar 95 - A Al-Sulaiti (QAT) / M Nicolini (ITA) - DNF

Qatar 96 - H Al-Thani (QAT) / S Curtis (GBR) - DNF

Giorgioffshore 18 – C Zaborowski (NOR) / N Giorgi (ITA) - DNF

Championship Standings after round 2

1. Victory 36pts

2. Fazza 31pts

3. Foresti & Suardi - Roscioli Hotels 18pts

4= Qatar 96 15pts

4= Maritimo 11 15pts

6. Maritimo 12 12pts

7= Aurantium 9pts

7= Giorgioffshore 9pts

7= Welmax 9pts

10. Qatar 95 4pts

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