UIM Skydive Dubai XCat World Series: Team Westerlund aim for return to podium

Sunday, Dec 08, 2013

Dubai: The last time Team Westerlund left Dubai after the third round of the UIM Skydive Dubai XCat World Series in March it was with the winner’s prize.

The Swedish outfit took advantage of series leaders Fazza’s mechanical problems to speed past and take their first XCat victory that day. But that was the last time they were on the podium, having left the last three races empty-handed, apart from a second place in the Dubai Duty Free Speed Cat Run in Stresa, Italy.

Now they are hoping Dubai will serve up some rough conditions when the seventh and final round of the series takes place at the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) from December 12-14.

“It feels great to be back in Dubai where I did my first XCat race and my XCat career started,” said Joakim Kumlin, who was racing with Daniel Svenson the last time he was in Dubai but will share the boat with F2 star Erik Stark this weekend. “Hopefully there will be windy conditions and strong waves like the last race in Dubai because there I’m really strong.”

The duo have been racing together since the European Grand Prix in Arona, Italy, and Kumlin said: “Me and Erik work really well together in the boat so that’s definitely a yes — we’ll be racing together again. A flat-water race can be hard to be number one, but with rough conditions, we can push the boat to the max and up to the podium.”

Team Westerlund have finished in fifth spot in the last two races (in Ningbo, China, and Arona) and failed to finish in Stresa after suffering a gearbox problem. Asked what it will take to change those fortunes, Kumiln said: “We need to be top four in the race for pole position and then need a great start in the race, with those rough conditions.”

With three boats still vying for overall series victory, the Dubai race will decide the 2013 championship. Entrance is free to the general public.

Staff Report