Sport 360 - Patrick O'Brien - The final round of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship takes place in the salubrious Mina Seyahi this weekend, with some mightily impressive sea vehicles doing their thing at the Sky Dive Dubai & Dubai Duty Free Dubai Grand Prix.

Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) will welcome the Class 1 Powerboat drivers back to town, after they began the season in Abu Dhabi back in April. They have since taken in races in Arendal, Norway, and Cernobbio, Italy, and will finish the season off here in the UAE this weekend.

Dubai’s Victory team leads the championship with 103 points, led by Arif Saif Al Zafeen and Nadir Bin Hendi. Next in the overall standings is Qatar’s Spirit of Qatar 96 with 77 points driven by HH Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al Thani and Steve Curtis, and they are followed by Spirit of Qatar 95 with 63 points with Ali Al Neama driving and Matteo Nicolini at the throttle.

Spectators can get a prime viewing spot - free of charge - at the breakwater at DIMC, where a close of view of these superb looking boats will be possible. The racing is a real case of man against sea, and riders will be hoping for calm sea conditions off the coast of Dubai this weekend.

Thursday December 8 at 2pm is the official start of the race weekend, and first up is a practice session, where the drivers will get the feel of the racecourse and make final checks on their boats. Qualifying will start at 9:30am on Friday morning, with Race 1 at 2pm that afternoon, followed by Race 2 on Saturday 10th December, also at 2pm.

“This is the largest fleet we’ve had racing for some time with ten boats racing,’ said Mohamed Hareb, from the DIMC Sports Committee. "This will close the 2011 Class 1 season and we are very happy to be hosting the race here in Dubai. Class 1 racing was bought to the UAE in 1992, which makes this our 20th anniversary and it has been a very interesting and unique journey since the inaugural race start line in the Dubai Creek.”

Indeed since 1992, the event has become a worldwide event, with the diversity of nationalities claiming the World Drivers’ Championship swelling in numbers, and including UAE, America, Great Britain, Italy, Monaco, Norway and Saudi Arabia.

Schedule: Sky Dive Dubai & Dubai Duty Free GP Class 1

Thursday
14:00 Practice

Friday
09:30 Qualifying
14:00 Race 1

Saturday
14:00 Race 2

What: Final round of the UIM Class 1 World Powerboat Championship

When: This weekend, 8-10 December.

Where: Dubai International Marine Club, viewing from the breakwater.