Talented Canadian rookie Rusty Wyatt defied expectations in the UIM F1H2O World Championship, earning a stunning victory from pole position at the Regione Sardegna Grand Prix of Italy in Olbia on Sunday afternoon.
Despite a first-lap yellow flag stoppage, Wyatt piloted his Sharjah Team DAC to a 12.210-second victory, leading from start to finish. This win gives the Ontario-based racer a 14-point lead in the World Drivers’ Championship, with the Sharjah Team now tied with Team Vietnam at the top of the Teams’ Championship standings.
Wyatt commented, “Starting from pole was a big advantage. We got a good start, and everything fell into place. Navigating lap traffic was challenging, but my crew guided me through it. It’s an incredible rookie year. What a weekend!”
The CTIC China Team’s Peter Morin finished second after Team Abu Dhabi’s Thani Al-Qamzi was sidelined with engine problems. Morin’s performance moved him up to fourth in the Drivers’ Championship. Morin said, “It was a very hard race, but it was important to get good points this afternoon.”
Strømøy Racing’s Bartak Marszalek avoided the chaos around him to secure the final podium spot. Defending World Champion Jonas Andersson faced engine troubles before the race and started from 14th position. He gradually moved up to fifth, unable to pass Marit Strømøy, who achieved a season-best fourth place in her four-stroke DAC. This result, along with Marszalek’s podium, moved Strømøy Racing into third place in the Teams’ Championship. Andersson remains second in the championship, just one point ahead of Erik Stark.
Andersson said, “It was a tough weekend. We broke everything; the guys worked 24 hours straight. Fortunately, the engine broke in the warm-up, not during the race. I passed some less experienced drivers but couldn’t get past Marit. She was unbeatable today. We still managed to collect valuable points.”
Ben Jelf of the F1 Atlantic Team finished sixth, holding 10th in the Drivers’ Championship. The Victory Team’s Ahmad Al-Fahim was seventh, followed by Brent Dillard of the CTIC China Team in eighth. Maverick Racing’s Cédric Deguisne and Wyatt’s teammate Filip Roms completed the top 10. Duarte Benavente of the F1 Atlantic Team and Alexandre Bourgeot of Maverick Racing finished 11th and 12th, respectively, just outside the points.
Erik Stark, who won round two in Vietnam, faced engine issues and could not finish the race. Stark said, “The Sprint didn’t go as planned. I made a mistake at the first buoy and struggled with speed all weekend. The plan was to get as many points as possible, but it just didn’t work out.”
Wyatt’s victory in Sardinia marks a significant milestone in his rookie season, showcasing his potential and putting him in strong contention for the World Drivers’ Championship. As the season progresses, the competition intensifies, with teams and drivers battling for every point in pursuit of championship glory.
