Torrente wins Jeddah GP, sets up stage for exciting final in Sharjah

Taking a giant step towards F1H2O Drivers World Championship title, Shaun Torrente lit up the Red Sea coastline with a performance of rare authority in Jeddah Grand Prix final on Sunday, delivering a commanding victory at the North Obhur Waterfront.

In a display marked by precision, the Dubai-based Victory Team star surged to the forefront of the title race.

Torrente’s tantalising display has set the stage for a spectacular championship showdown on the shimmering waters of Khalid Lagoon, where the Sharjah Grand Prix will burst into life from Dec. 19-21.

With momentum swirling around him like a rising tide, the final act of the season promises high-octane drama.

With this triumphant victory, Torrente didn’t just win a race-he reshaped the Drivers World Championship standings. His masterclass on the water launched him to the top of the standings with 89 points, creating a commanding 14-point gap over reigning world champion Jonas Andersson of Team Sweden. It was a symbolic passing of momentum, a signal that the crown is once again within Torrente’s grasp.

In a twist, Torrente also surged past his own team-mate, Alec Weckstrom, whose once narrow lead entering the Jeddah finale dissolved beneath the pressure of the moment. The young Finnish talent, who had arrived at the Grand Prix at the summit of the standings, now finds himself slipping to third with 72 points.

Despite the relentless torrent of challenges-two tense and protracted yellow-flag stoppages that slowed down the race’s rhythm, the American remained unfazed and emerged unscathed and maintained his unyielding command at the front of the pack.

Torrente reflected on the weekend with unmistakable satisfaction.

“I feel like we swept the whole weekend,” he said.

“It’s incredibly rare to have a boat perform this well from the moment it touches the water. That actually makes you more anxious-you want to make the most of it and turn it into a win, and thankfully we did. The Victory Team guys have been phenomenal, and I’m genuinely grateful.

“Now we head to Sharjah with a real chance to fight for another world title. We’re in the lead, and I’m just thankful they gave me the opportunity to come back and show what we’re capable of. I’m unbelievably blessed.”

The final day of the inaugural Jeddah Grand Prix race was graced by Prince Sultan bin Fahad bin Salman Al-Saud, President of the Saudi Arabian Watersport and Diving Federation, alongside a host of senior officials and visiting dignitaries.

Three-time world champion Andersson entered the fray with high hopes, having started the race in a formidable second place after his victory in Friday’s second sprint. Yet, the Grand Prix proved to be a dramatic rollercoaster for the Swedish ace.

Yet, the race proved to be a dramatic rollercoaster for the Swede. He initially tumbled perilously down the order to seventh position. Displaying the tenacity and fierce resolve, Andersson mounted a stunning resurgence, fighting his way back through the pack with grit to reclaim a hard-won second place. The comeback keeps his championship ambitions very much alive as Torrente’s fiercest pursuer.

Behind him, Stromoy Racing’s Bartek Marszałek snatched the final podium place. The Pole had to dig deep in the closing laps, fending off a ferocious challenge from the Stefan Arand of the Sharjah Team, who pushed relentlessly to claim fourth.

Marszałek reflected on the drama of the race with a satisfied smile. “You have to push all the way to the finish line-that’s the true beauty of this sport,” he said.

“It’s unpredictable, and that is exactly what makes it so exciting for everyone involved. I managed to fight my way forward and gain a few positions, and I’m really pleased to take this result, both for myself and for the team. It means a lot,” the 42-year-old Polish driver added.

Further down the order, Peter Morin of the China CTIC Team ended fifth, while Erik Stark of Team Abu Dhabi finished sixth.