Hydroplanes ready to rock and roll in NZ

9:17 PM Mon 12 Jan 2009 GMT

'Annihilator 3, Ken Lupton at the controls, ready for action at Tauranga. - Hydroplane GP championships' New Zealand Hydroplane Drivers Club Phillip Hoskyn

The thundering roar of big block engines will reverberate across the Tasman this coming weekend with the opening rounds of the UIM Masport World Grand Prix Hydroplane championships.

Tauranga is the venue for the opening round over the weekend of January 17 and 18, with the competitors moving to Lake Karapiro, Cambridge, for the second stanza over the weekend of February 7 and 8.

It’s spectacular action like this that will have spectators on their toes when the UIM GP World Hydroplane championships get underway this weekend in New Zealand. - World hydro championships - New Zealand Hydroplane Drivers Club .PhillipHoskyn

E.C.Griffith Cup winner, Warwick Lupton, will be keen to pilot Annihilator to a victory, while Brett Niddrie, at the wheel of Warlord, will be Australia's main hope.

In fact, the powerful Annihilator team will again run three boats as it did at Yarrawonga during the Griffith Cup classic. Either Ken Lupton or David Alexander will be quite happy to upset Warwick and relegate the cup winner to a minor place.

Scott Coker (Fair Warning) and Graeme Weller (G-Force) will ensure that whoever wins will know he's been in a race.

Something of an unknown quantity on the local scene, American driver J. Michael Kelly has the experience to log a sound performance. He is just 28-years-old, but...can boast 21-years of powerboat racing experience!

Scrutineering has been scheduled for 7am to 9am on Saturday, followed by drivers' briefing at 9am.

The downtown Tauranga course will be open for practice 9.30 to 11.30. Two heats, each comprising four boats, will be run on the two days.

Powerboat-World will be monitoring the championships and you'll read about it all right here.

For additional information, visit the website, www.nzgphydroplane

Graeme Weller’s hydro G-Force will ensure some tight racing during the UIM World GP Hydroplane championships. - Hydroplane GP championships - New Zealand Hydroplane Drivers Club .PhillipHoskyn

Warwick Lupton, winner of the E.C. Griffith Cup, takes a breather during practice for this weekend’s UIM World GP Hydroplane championships. - World hydro championships - New Zealand Hydroplane Drivers Club .PhillipHoskyn

by Bob Wonders

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