Qatar-backed Villwock wins race in US

Dave Villwock, the defending National High Points champion, began his 2012 challenge in the Air National Guard H1 Hydroplane Series by snatching victory in a delayed Lucas Oil Indiana Governor’s Cup final on the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana, on Sunday afternoon. The Washington State driver runs an Ellstrom Racing hydroplane in the H1 Unlimited series with the backing of Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani and the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF). He now has a slender 20-point advantage over Florida’s Steve David in the National High Points’ standings. “It was just the start to the season we needed in tricky conditions,” said the delighted U-1 Spirit of Qatar driver. Villwock clinched two heat wins, points for being the fastest qualifier and second place in one heat before charging to victory in the final, despite a 50-minute delay because of high winds on the racecourse. The U-1 driver managed to hold off the challenge from home favourite Steve David, with Scott Liddycoat claiming third place and Kip Brown finishing fourth, ahead of J.W. Myers in the Peters & May boat. Villwock got the weekend off to a perfect start in qualifying. Despite searing heat, the U-1 Spirit of Qatar driver posted the fastest average speed of 148.837 mph to pip Steve David to the 100 points for topping qualifying. David recorded a 148.548 mph tour of the Ohio River course and Jimmy Shane was third in U-5 Graham Trucking. Villwock got the better of Greg Hopp to clinch 400 points for victory in Heat 1C, with Kip Brown pipping J.W.Myers to 1A success and Steve David ousting Jimmy Shane to take Heat 1B. David, Villwock, Steve David, Mike Webster and Mark Evans were drawn together for Heat 2C on Sunday and David got the edge to claim the heat win, although Villwock beat Hopp, J. MichaelKelly and Evans in Heat 3B. The second round of the series takes place in Detroit this coming weekend (July 13-15), when teams tackle the APBA Gold Cup on the Detroit River.