Guido Capellini's win at the Grand Prix of Latvia was his third consecutive victory this season on the U.I.M. Formula One circuit.

Guido Capellini's win at the Grand Prix of Latvia was his third consecutive victory this season on the U.I.M. Formula One circuit.



FOND DU LAC, Wis. — Italian Guido Cappellini, driving a Mercury 2.5-litre racing outboard-powered tunnel raceboat of his own design, worked his way from the back of the pack on a restart to win the second annual Grand Prix of Latvia in Rita, Latvia, Sunday, June 3. The race was the fourth round of the 2001 Union International Motonautique Formula One season . It was Cappellini's third consecutive victory on the Formula One circuit.

Pole sitter Massimo Roggiero led from the start dock with Scott Gillman of Basalt, Colo., trailing in second. Roggiero led for the first quarter of the race until Gillman eventually passed him with Cappellini quickly closing in on third. Gillman held Cappellini off until the 17th lap when Cappellini made his move in a tight series of turns to take the lead. Gillman, in trying to regain his lead from Cappellini, stuffed his boat in the middle of the front straight a way on lap 19, ending his race.

With Gillman stuck in the middle of the course, racing continued with rookie Antonio Feu going left around Gillman and Italian Ivan Torta going right. The two met in what was a spectacular crash with Torta's boat climbing over Feau's before barrel rolling. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. Gillman's accident left with him a large points deficit and greatly diminishes his chances of capturing a third world title.

Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne jumped in the lead on the restart, and led the field for the next 11 laps before Cappellini made his move on lap 30 to take the lead and win the race with a 29-second edge over second-place finisher Dessertenne. Latvian Victor Kunitch cruised past loud cheers of his fellow countrymen in celebration of his strong third place finish. Cappellini's teammate Yutaka Sugihara finished fourth. Emirates Team driver Awad Al Qubaisi rounded out fifth. All were powered by Mercury 2.5 Liter F1 race outboards

The 2001 U.I.M. Formula 1 World Championship for power boating continues its 20th Anniversary season as it moves on to Campione d Italia for the Grand Prix of Italy, June 17.