Thunder on the Great Lake

When the first round of the 2009 Rayglass New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Racing Championship takes place on Taupo’s Great Lake on Saturday 24 January, the water-based motorsport spectacle will add another exciting dimension to the international motorsport action of the A1GP event at Taupo Motorsport Park.

The thundering offshore powerboats have historically proved a popular event for Taupo locals and summer visitors to the Central Plateau tourist destination. The varied and impressive line-up of powerboats and associated competitor and sponsor marquees lining the lakefront in front of Suncourt Hotel add to the carnival atmosphere present in Taupo during the summer months.

“We love being one of Taupo’s summer attractions,” says Wayne Valder, president of the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Association (NZOPA). “We invite members of the public to come along to the Northcroft Reserve in front of Suncourt Hotel and enjoy the spectacle of our racing boats. Everyone’s welcome to walk amongst the boats and talk to the crews. It’s free to visit our pit area prior to and after our racing is completed and there’s great free viewing right along the lakefront and around to Four Mile Bay of the actual racing.”

Round 1 of the 2009 Rayglass New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Racing Championship consists of one race of different lengths for the various classes of powerboat entered.

The Superboat and Superboat Lite classes, with a top speed of 110 to 120 mph, contest a 100-mile course, while the Sport, Classic and Formula Honda class entrants compete over a 60-mile course. The Sport and Classic classes have a top speed of 80 to 100 mph, while the Formula Hondas can run at up to 60 mph, depending on conditions.

The new season has brought some changes amongst the competitors, says Valder.

“But first I must acknowledge the support of Rayglass Boats which has recently signed as the naming rights’ sponsor of the Offshore Powerboat Championship,” says Valder. “The support of the whole Rayglass Boats team is just fantastic and we’re looking forward to a truly outstanding summer of racing to help showcase our new sponsor.

“In terms of the competition, former New Zealand Superboat champions Peter Turner and Craig Archer, in ‘Sleepyhead’, have decided to not run this season. With ex-New Zealand champion Richard Shores and Wayne Carson, in ‘Placemakers’, also on the sideline after an incident at Gulf Harbour last season, you could say that the racing may have lost its glamour.

“But this is not so as we have some fantastic new talent in the series again this season. Last year’s newcomer Tony Coleman, in ‘Cure Kids’, looks to be the pre-season pick after some excellent performances in his first season in 2008. Joining Tony in ‘Cure Kids’ to take on the vital job of managing the Skater 35’s throttles is seasoned campaigner Chris Hanley. Having sorted the boat’s bugs, the Auckland-based crew will be the one to beat in 2009.

“The real challenge to ‘Cure Kids’ will come from the brand new Skater 34 ‘Fairview Windows and Doors’,” says Valder. “This boat is the latest design off the Douglas Skater drawing board and has only just recently arrived from the United States. With the experienced Auckland-based crew of brothers Warren and Scott Lewis at the helm, expect them to be right at the front of the field.

“Superboat Lite champion ‘Rayglass Boats’ is back, with Wellington driver Kelly Smith aiming to defend her title with father Grant alongside her this season. On paper, this looks like a winning combination. Grant was a series runner-up in series last season in his Skater Cat ‘Addictive’, but this season has decided to consolidate with a one-boat campaign.

The serious challenger to ‘Rayglass’ will be ‘Doosan’, according to Valder. “After a successful first season in 2008, Aucklanders Cary Gleeson and Sam Fillmore have repowered the boat with two of the new Mercury 300XS Eco friendly engines. Pre-season testing has shown they will be right up at the front in Taupo.”

In the 60-mile championship, defending champion Classic class boat ‘Marineworks’ will face some stiff opposition from the recently repowered Super 60 class Force F19x ‘Konica Minolta’ driven by Greg Brinck.

“The Formula Honda class looks to be as competitive as ever with ten boats already confirmed for the series,” adds Valder. “With current champion Wellingtonian Mikey Smith away on his ‘OE’, we’re watching Auckland’s Mike Knight in ‘Building Solutions’ and past champion Whangaparaoa’s Mike Urqhart in ‘Auckland District Collections 2’ as the ones like to battle for the championship title. Also look out for ex-British four-stroke Honda champion Phil Haynes in ‘Honda Marine’ to be the outside bet for the title. Having recently immigrated here, his race experience and hard-charging style will make him a real contender for the 2009 title.”

Taupo’s powerboat races start at 12:00pm with the L-shaped course running along the main lakefront, out to Four Mile Bay and back again. Depending on conditions, the race is normally completed within one hour, leaving plenty of time for motorsport fans to then head to the A1GP meeting at the Taupo Motorsport Park.

Highlights packages from each round of the 2009 Rayglass New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Racing Championship will screen on Sky Sport and Prime, with TV schedules due to be confirmed by broadcasters shortly. News and results from the eight round series is regularly updated on the NZOPA website, www.nzoffshore.co.nz. After the opening round in Taupo on 24 January, the series moves to Gulf Harbour on 14 February, Maraetai on 28 February, Napier on 7 March, Wellington on 21 March, Whitianga on 4 April, Whangarei on 18 April and Auckland on 2 May.

ENDS/

2009 Rayglass New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Racing Championship calendar

TAUPO - 24 January

GULF HARBOUR - 14 February

MARAETAI - 28 February

NAPIER - 7 March

WELLINGTON - 21 March

WHITIANGA - 4 April

WHANGAREI - 18 April

AUCKLAND - 2 May