LIUZHOU, China, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Defending World Champion Alex Carella of the Qatar Team lifted his second race title of the season in the UIM world championship here on Tuesday.

Carella held off a strong challenge from last year's winner Thani Al Qamzi of Team Abu Dhabi to win and moved into the first place in the drivers championship on 59 points after the Grand Prix of China in Liuzhou.

"I had a real rough afternoon and had to push as hard as I could to hold off Thani," said the 27-year-old Italian. "The closest he got at one time was within three seconds of me but I was able to pace him to the finish. There are still two races to be run and its a long way to the end of the season so I have to just focus on the prize of winning more races before the sun sets in Sharjah in December."

Taking third and his third podium in four races this season was CTIC China driver Philippe Chiappe. The French pilot, who had a steady race, finishing 14.14 seconds behind for the final podium spot, regained his composure after a slow start dropping him from fourth to sixth before fighting back.

"It's always something special to reach a podium in China," said Philippe. "Now my next step is to finally put together a full race and win for the first time, hopefully before the end of the season and a fight for the title as well."

The Grand Prix in Liuzhou was the first time in the history of the series that two female drivers took part and the rookie from Sweden Bimba Sjoholm of Team Sweden was running tenth after qualifying 12th until barrel rolling out of the event on the seventh lap bringing out the pace boat for the first time in the race.

The next stop of the UIM F1 H2O World Championship heads to the heart of the Middle East and Abu Dhabi on the last week of November with many drivers still in the hunt for a World Championship.

UIM or Union Internationale Motonautique is the world governing body of powerboating. Enditem