TEAM MIAMI SECURE POLE POSITION AND CRUCIAL FINAL POINTS IN ROUND 7

Following a podium finish the previous day, Sports.com Predict Team Miami powered by MAGNUS picked up pole position for the first time this season as well as final points in the last round of their home race weekend (November 14).

The team headed into Qualifying for Round 7 with confidence, having gained valuable experience during Round 6’s sessions the previous day.

Timmy Hansen was first to take to the water, aiming to set a strong benchmark for the team. Although the Swede initially found himself towards the back of the pack, a strong final lap in the closing stages saw him surge through the field to secure P4. Rianna O’Meara-Hunt followed with a solid performance in the subsequent Q1 session, securing a combined fourth-place for the team.

It was in Q2, however, that Team Miami really hit their stride. Hansen led the charge in his session, delivering one of the fastest lap times of the weekend with an impressive 1:02.28 to secure P1.

O’Meara-Hunt followed suit with an equally dominant performance, moving to the top of the leaderboard early in her session and maintaining her position throughout. Posting a lap time just a couple of tenths shy of Hansen’s, this converted into Team Miami’s first pole position of the season - a significant milestone at their home race.

For Race 1 of the Group Stages, Hansen made the perfect start, leading into the opening corner and positioning himself in clean water to quickly pull away from the pack. Opting for an early short lap, he had built a seven-second advantage over Team Aoki in P2 by the halfway point. He continued to extend his lead, comfortably crossing the finish line to secure another P1 finish.

O’Meara-Hunt, meanwhile, faced a tougher Race 2 after a turbulent run into Turn 1 saw her drop to P5. However, the Kiwi completed her long lap early, which proved to be the right move as she fought her way back through the field to secure a P3 finish.

As the Race Off got underway, Hansen was caught up in a fiery opening lap, emerging from the chaos in P4. With the RaceBirds still tightly packed on Lap 2, an incident in the opening corners saw the Swede handed a long-lap penalty. Despite his best efforts to recover, he was unable to build a sufficient gap to his competition, bringing Team Miami home in sixth and confirming their spot in the Place Race.

O’Meara-Hunt was called up for the final outing of the season, but her hopes of ending the campaign on a high were quickly dashed after receiving two long-lap penalties on the opening lap for a jump start and contact with a buoy. Much like Hansen in the Race Off, the penalties left her with too much ground to make up, and Team Miami ultimately crossed the finish line in P4 for tenth overall.

Despite the challenges of Round 7, the Miami squad remained determined to make the most of its final outing of the season, securing valuable points and adding a pole position to its list of accolades in front of a supportive home crowd. This brings an action-packed season to a close on the waters of Biscayne Bay.

Steve Curtis, Team Principal, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what the team has achieved this weekend. Securing our first pole position of the season and another podium in Round 6 were fantastic highlights and a real reflection of the hard work everyone has put in throughout the year. While Round 7’s races didn’t quite deliver the results we were hoping for, we will take the learnings through to next season and go home with our heads held high.”

Timmy Hansen said: “It’s been a weekend of real highs and lows, but there’s no doubt we’ve shown what we’re capable of as a team. Getting a pole position and a podium in the same weekend is a fantastic feeling, especially here in Miami. Today’s Race Off was hard work and unfortunately, the penalty made it difficult to fight our way back into contention. However, I’m pleased with the pace we showed and the progress we’ve made. It’s been great to have the home crowd behind us, and I’m grateful for all the support.”

Rianna O’Meara-Hunt said: “Racing in Miami has been a really special experience, and it’s been fantastic to have so much support from the home crowd. Securing a podium in Round 6 and pole in Round 7 were great moments for the team. The Place Race was more challenging for me, with a few incidents making it difficult to achieve the result I wanted, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. I’m taking plenty of positives away from the weekend and what we’ve achieved together this season as a whole. I’m incredibly proud to be part of this team.”