Tauranga Race Weekend Hydroplane World Championships

8:38 AM Sun 18 Jan 2009 GMT

'Ken Lupton Annihilator 3 and Warlord Brett Niddries - Tauranga Race Weekend Jan 17-18 2009' New Zealand Hydroplane Drivers Club Phillip Hoskyn Click Here to view large photo

Some pretty good Racing all weekend (Jan 17-18 2009) in front of a very large Tauranga crowd. Boats were split into two heats as a precaution to the new Tauranga course. Points were awarded after the Race times from each Heat were placed in order of fastest time first to slowest time last.

Heat 1
Brett Niddrie comfortably won the first Heat of the World Championships from David Alexander and Scott Coker.

Heat 1a
Graeme Weller has returned to GP Racing by Winning his Heat by about 200 metres from Ken Lupton with Warwick Lupton a good half a lap further back.J. Michael Kelly failed to finish.

Heat 2
Ken Lupton won the Race after having a great battle with Warlord who sadly lost a blower belt on the third Lap. Annihilator Warwick Lupton was lucky to get second after G- Force slowed with an unknown Issue.

Heat 2a
In Heat 2a Rerun J. Michael Kelly ran a very strong third place on an Engine that was not very healthy. He finished only half a lap back from winner David Alexander and just behind Scott Coker.

David Alexander Annihilator 2 - Tauranga Race Weekend Jan 17-18 2009 - New Zealand Hydroplane Drivers Club .PhillipHoskyn Click Here to view large photo

Points after the Tauranga round
1st Ken Lupton 625pts.
2nd David Alexander 469pts.
3rd Brett Niddrie 400pts.
4th Graeme Weller 395pts.
5th Warwick Lupton 352pts.
6th Scott Coker 264pts.
7th J. Michael Kelly 127pts.
Final Round held 7th 8th February at Lake Karapiro Cambridge.

Masport Cup
David Alexander on his way to win the first heat of the Masport Cup from Brett Niddrie, Graeme Weller, Scott coker and Steve Hughes. Heat two was won by David Alexander from Scott Coker and Steve Huhges

Masport Cup Final top 3 places
David Alexander Annihilator 2 1st
Scott Coker Fair Warning 2nd
Steve Hughes Total Lubricants 3rd

Marsh Motorsport Trophy
Nigel Zander in Helter Skelter left the field in his wake to win the race by half a lap from Daniel Pollack in Undertaker and Tracy gapper in Tempo Too.