Shelter View hosts NZ’s top drivers
NZ Jetsprint Champs precursor to hosting World Champs next year
The final round of the New Zealand Jetsprint Championship was held at Shelter View near Whanganui on Sunday, March 3, and as expected, the racers put everything on the line to try and secure points towards the National Championship.
Fingers were crossed that the weather would play nicely and thankfully it did, with a little drizzle in the morning soon making way for a lovely sunny afternoon.
This round will allow racers to check out the competition for the UIM World Championships coming back to New Zealand tracks next season.
They will be run over two consecutive weekends, each over two days, with Wānaka holding the first round on January 25-26 and the final round in Whanganui on February 1-2, 2025.
Racers from Australia, the US and Canada are expected to compete with the LS Class recently being included in the UIM competition.
Building King Superboats
“The quality of boats and drivers in the largest class on Sunday would arguably be the best in the world,” said Julia Murray, New Zealand Jetsprint Association president. “PSP Racing Sam Newdick and Shama Putaranui drove superbly all day, taking the win in the top three and posting the fastest time of the day.
“Southerners Robert White and Lisa Glubb also saved their best for last in securing second while Building Kings, Whanganui locals, Rob and Ange Coley came third.
Sprintec Boats Group A
“Even though the fast rotation flowed nicely, it caught a few people out, most significantly, current Sprintec Boats Group A 1NZ PSP Ollie Silverton and Jess Sit, who went the wrong day in the top six, meaning they ended the day in fifth place.
“Whanganui local Ross Travers alongside long-time navigator Amanda Kittow took the win in style. No limits Matt Hareb and Hayden George came second after having the best day they have had on the water for a few rounds.
“LJ Hooker, Bryce and Kylie Baron rounded out the podium in third, a fitting comeback after they had ended upside down in the water at the last Whanganui event.
MTW LS Class
“It was Team USA all the way on Sunday as 19-year-old River Rogers once again didn’t put a foot wrong and took the win. The battle for second and third was hotly contested, the Skitzo Team of Paddy and Jay Haden took second, with David and Jackson Hopkins in third.”
MTW Group B
Venom Kris Rasmussen and Holly Sutherland made it five from five, taking the win. Richard Currie came second, followed by Sam Gray and Mike Allen in third.