New Zealand Grand Prix Power Boat Championships

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Spectacular crash hands Hart title


Warwick Lupton and the Annihilator Race Boat get airborne during his spectacular blow over which ended the GP race at the New Zealand Power Boat Championships on Lake Dunstan over the weekend. Courtesy Jeremy Ward

Christchurch driver Raymond Hart was made to work hard for his national title at the weekend in what was the hardest fought and most memorable National Powerboat Championship race in recent years.

At the New Zealand Powerboat Championships on Lake Dunstan in Cromwell, Hart and boat The Boss prevailed in the GP class when opponent Warwick Lupton crashed out in spectacular fashion.

Racing out of New Brighton against a four boat North Island team, Hart had a perfect start to gain the lead at the first turn as Lucas Oils, driven by Ken Lupton, attacked and then GP57 driven by Ken's brother Jack Lupton mounted a stern challenge for the lead.

Still holding on after three laps, Hart was given another challenge by Annihilator Race Boats, driven by former world champion Warwick Lupton. He made a charge down the back straight and reached speeds approaching 300kmh which saw Lupton momentarily take the lead.

Unfortunately he was upside down as he flew past The Boss in what was one of the most spectacular blow overs ever witnessed and caught on camera.

After seeing the boat break in three, the spectators, rescue staff and other drivers were amazed Lupton was able to calmly open the hatch and sit astride his broken machine as it was towed to safety.

As per the rules in hydroplane racing, the race was abandoned with The Boss, Raymond Hart, his crew and owner Peter Knight declared the winner and 2015 national champion.

The race meeting was held in changeable conditions after a perfect lead-up week and was marred by a series of spectacular crashes in the formula one tunnel hull class as drivers contested a tightly fought series finale.

Design Windows driven by Anthony Robertson eventually prevailed in a close finish from Christchurch man Jeff Price in Lone Wolf who crashed in the final race. Nelson driver Julian Stilwell finished the series third. Malcolm Jamieson from Picton went in as series leader but had engine problems and did not feature.

The prestigious Canadian trophy for overall club supremacy across all grades was won by the Lake Rotoiti Power Boat Club over the New Brighton club.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/sport/68082970/Spectacular-crash-hands-Hart-title

 

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World champ survives 300kmh crash

A world champion driver emerged bruised but otherwise unharmed after his 300kmh hydroplane flipped and crashed on Lake Dunstan yesterday.

Warwick Lupton, of Wanganui, was on the fourth and final lap of a race at the New Zealand Powerboat National Championships when his 2000hp racer Annihilator became airborne.

But the 55-year-old farmer was not fazed by the accident, which he described as a ''hell of a ride'', and would happily get into a hydroplane again.

A sore back and a few bruises was all he was left with, but they were just ''rule of thumb'' for this sport.

So what was running through his head when he went up into the air? ''Not a lot; I was hanging in there. I had a bloody good view.''

Lupton - a two-time winner of the UIM World GP Hydroplane Champs - had missed the start and sped up to 300kmh to catch other boats when he ran into trouble.

He hit one wave which lifted the boat up, but was able to catch it. When he hit a second wave he got too high and the boat vaulted into the air and somersaulted.

The boat landed upright, but snapped on landing, which Mr Lupton said absorbed most of the impact.

''I wasn't worried at all. It didn't faze me.''

He said when going at those speeds, the danger lay in when the boat's nose hit the water. His accident was not a common occurrence in the sport, which has high safety standards.

There were about four divers on the course, including paramedic divers, trained to rescue drivers in the event of an accident.

Each driver is strapped in tight into a ''capsule'' with a five point harness, and an F16 fighter jet oxygen mask in case the driver finds himself under water.

Lupton was able to free himself easily and was eventually towed ashore.

Powerboat nationals co-organiser Denise Preece screamed and cried when she saw Lupton's boat launch itself. ''It was a pretty horrific accident,'' she said.

Mrs Preece said when he came ashore, everyone was clapping and Lupton waved.

Each boat was designed so drivers could escape unharmed, she said. Lupton does not describe himself as an adrenaline junkie and said it was a ''family sport'' and a way of life.

His boat, made of kevlar and carbon fibre and weighing about 1250kg, had more than 8000 man-hours spent on developing it.

Lupton was unable to finish the event, which was cut short due to rough conditions.

''We would have won the race if we had kept going,'' he said.

by Liam Cavanagh/video courtesy Kane Kelly

 

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