Lake Karapiro came alive this weekend with the thrilling spectacle of high-speed powerboat racing as the Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Series heads into its third round. This highly anticipated event was organised to run alongside the historic Masport Challenge Cup, celebrating its 100th anniversary, and the Tradezone New Zealand Powerboat Series. Due to a couple of aborted Masport Challenge Cup runs today, the Masport Cup has been postponed until a later date (it would be a sin to not race on its 100th anniversary year!) So, the spotlight turned to the Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Series, where some of the world’s top hydroplane racers battled it out on the water.
The weekend promised non-stop action, with Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder time trials on Friday followed by three sets of Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder heat races (A, B) scheduled for Saturday. Sunday saw the Hydro Thunder NZ Series consolation race and final, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion.
The competition this year was impressive, with a lineup of GP well-tried and provedn hydroplanes and pilots. Among the most notable competitors: reigning Hydro Thunder Champion David Alexander, HRL Champion Ken Lupton, and USA’s H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Champion Andrew Tate.
Jack Lupton took to the water on Friday for the maiden run of his brand-new GP33. This state-of-the-art GP hydroplane was built by Lupton Motorsport in New Zealand.
Lake Karapiro, known for its challenging conditions, tested the skill and endurance of all competitors. These hydroplanes, reaching speeds of over 250 km/h, had to contend with unpredictable water conditions and the fierce competition from seasoned veterans and emerging challengers alike.
The results from Friday’s Lucas Oil NZ Hydro Thunder time trails (time trials are over a minimum distance of one lap of the championship course) set the scene for the heats on Saturday and finals on Sunday:
- David Alexander – 34.50 seconds
- Andrew Tate – 34.94 seconds
- Ken Lupton – 35.54 seconds
- Jason Haggerty – 37.55 seconds
- Jack Lupton – 37.81 seconds
- Scott Coker – 37.87 seconds
- Raymond Hart – 38.79 seconds
- Kevin Ireland – 40.38 seconds
So how did the heats go down?
Heat 1a
- 1st – David Alexander: David Alexander, a veteran of 23 years in the sport, piloted his boat Miss Waverley (GP777), putting on a strong performance despite a late start and a near nosedive. Alexander had a solid battle with Jack Lupton before taking the win. Alexander comes from Waverley representing the Wanganui club. With four Masport Cups, five AE Baker Cups, three New Zealand Championship titles, and the 2018 Hydro Thunder Championship under his belt, he’s a force on the water. Built in 2019 by Henderson/Auld, Miss Waverley is powered by a 1,300HP supercharged V8 HRL 468cu engine from Grant Rivers Race Engines. Backed by Crew Chief Phil Crawford and a dedicated team, Alexander’s boat is sponsored by Peko, Grant Rivers Race Engines, Wilson Livestock, and more.
- 2nd – Jack Lupton: Jack Lupton is a highly experienced hydrothunder pilot with three Masport Champion Cup, and two A.E Baker Cup wins. Today he focused on developing his new boat, which sports the number GP33, which he expects will improve with more outings.”[The new boat is] a little flighty, so just trying to keep the boat on the water at the moment… very good in the turns. We’re just trying to change a little bit of the deck profiles at the moment, just taping stuff on to keep it on the water in the straightaway, but so far very positive for a new boat out of the box.”
- 3rd – Ken Lupton: Ken Lupton, the reigning Hydro Thunder Champion, has been racing for 16 years and pilots Lucas Oil (GP577) out of Waverley for the Wanganui club. With four Masport Cups and two AE Baker Cups to his name, he’s a top contender. Built in 2022 by Henderson/Auld, Lucas Oil is a 26-foot hydroplane packing serious power—its supercharged V8 engines range from 1,300HP to over 2,000HP. Crew Chief Phil Bluemont leads a strong team, including several Lupton family members. Today he and his crew faced a major setback as his team forgot to insert a bung, leading to water flooding one side of the boat. “I managed to get it on the plane, but going down the straight was quite hairy. It was trying to bury the right-hand [side], I couldn’t get through the corners properly.”
- DNS – Raymond Hart. After racing in the time trials, Raymond and his crew found a few problems which they focused on, with the goal to get his boat, Thunder Struck (GP666), ready for racing in the Masport Cup (planned for Sunday). Raymond Hart, an engineer from Christchurch, pilots Thunder Struck for the New Brighton club. With a decade of racing under his belt, he commands the 24-foot, 1,300kg carbon fibre hydroplane built in 2019 by Henderson/Auld. Powered by a 510cu engine with a reduced 871 blower, Thunder Struck is a force on the water. Crew Chief Steve “Piggy” Malone leads the team, which includes Raymond’s family—Tom (MrT) and Jacob (MrJ) Hart—along with fuel men Dave Henry and Tony Armstrong. Sponsored by Denco Engineering and Cylinder Heads Christchurch, GP666 was originally built as a kit in New Zealand.
Heat 1b
- 1st – Andrew Tate: USA’s H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Champion, Andrew Tate is a 4th generation driver. His great-grandfather, grandfather, father and mother all raced hydroplanes. Tate continues to adapt to his “new” boat, previously owned by Jack Lupton. “Every time we get the boat out and put it in the water, we learn something new. It’s an old boat but a new boat to me. It’s been set up before and it’s fast for me. Just getting it more comfortable.”
- 2nd – Scott Coker: Scott Coker hails from Otorohanga, a panelbeater by day and a powerboat racing legend with 23 years of driving experience. His boat, Howzat (GP10), is a 24ft, 1300kg carbon fibre beauty, powered by a supercharged Big Block Chev engine, cranking out 1300-1400 horsepower. Scott’s impressive career includes five NZ Championships, three Australasian titles, and 10+ North & South Championships. The GP10, once known as Miss New Zealand and a few other famous names, was imported into NZ a few years ago. He’s supported by Otorohanga Collision & Repairs and Ngaruawahia Automotive.
- DNF – Jason Haggerty: Jason’s Lady Liz (GP273) suffered from a blower belt failure. Jason Haggerty pilots Lady Liz out of Invercargill, racing for the Southland Power Boat Club. With 11 years in the sport, Jason has secured titles like the AE Baker Cup, Masport Cup, and NZPBA nationals. The 26ft, 12.6ft wide boat, built in 2010, runs a supercharged V8 HRL 468cu engine, producing 1300HP, built by Mike Pittams. Owned by Garth and Robyn Haggerty, with Colin Horsnell as crew chief, Lady Liz is supported by a talented crew. The boat, originally built as Steeler and imported by David Alexander, is sponsored by Bena Fisheries and several other local businesses.
Heat 2a (Rerun due to a bad start)
Heat 2a had to be rerun due to a bad start from Raymond Hart on Thunderstruck. Hart made a crucial error at the start, clipping the mark. “The starts are busy. You’ve got to be on your A-game to hit that second right as you cross the start line. I probably missed it by a wee bit and was trying to come down into the turn pretty hard on Jack and then turned it in. There was the spray off [the back of] Jack’s turn fin, and I just rode on up on it. Then I was just a passenger after that.” Hart and his team retired to make a valiant effor to gear up for the Masport Champion Cup which was set to run on Sunday.
Heat 2b
1st – Andrew Tate: Dominated the race, catching the attention of fans. Fan Rob Tanney commented, “What a race Andrew!! Didn’t realize you also had a pilot’s license because the GP6—more of the boat was in the air than was in the water!”
Heat 3a
Pending final clock verificationHeat 3a was unofficially won by Ken Lupton, racing in Lucas Oil. Chasing Ken and in a close battle for position, were David Alexander and Steve Preece.
Lucas Oil NZ Hydro Thunder Grand Final
A dramatic final race saw a major upset, with Scott Coker charging from Pole 6 to claim his first-ever Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder Grand Final win! Woohoo! Way to go Scott!
Final Standings
- 1st – Scott Coker (Howzat): Executed a near-perfect start and finish. “I thought I was playing it pretty close to the start. The other two might have been a bit early, but who really knows. It was a good little tassel with Jack over the race. I was still rebuilding the engine last night…”
- 2nd – Jack Lupton (GP33): Still working through the challenges of a brand-new boat. “An average boat, new out. [There is still] a lot to learn, and a lot to change.”
- 3rd – Ken Lupton (Lucas Oil Racing)
Round 3 of the Lucas Oil NZ Hydro Thunder Series at Lake Karapiro delivered excitement, action and unexpected victories. With Scott Coker securing his first grand final win and the Lupton brothers continuing their dominance (almost), the competition remains fierce as the series progresses.
