Jet sprint championship to launch in hioliday

 
For immediate release: 15 December 2009.
 

Jet sprint championship to launch in Christmas holiday

Fast catching on for its spectacular action and regular spills, the 2010 Jetpro Jetsprinting Championship begins with a post-Christmas visit to Wanganui’s Shelterview Raceway on 27 December for the start of the six round series featuring world-class drivers.

More than 40 teams are entered across the three categories contesting for national glory, headed by defending Suzuki Super Boat champion Richard Burt of Palmerston North, Bevan Muir (Thames) in the international Group A class and David Stone (Bulls) in the entry-level Jetpro New Zealand Lites.

With the return of the ten New Zealand teams that recently contested the UIM World Series in Australia late November, the only entry missing from the national title line-up is the newly world crowned Peter Caughey and Karen Marshall from Canterbury.

However Burt, a funeral director, says his title defence with navigating father-in-law Roger Maunder, will be even tougher this year.  That’s despite having the same boat and 500 cubic inch small-block engine that propelled them to their first title win.

“The hull has been back to Rex Briant of White Pointer Boats, addressing some of the handling issues we had last year, otherwise nothing has really changed,” described Burt of his VitroGlaze – Garlington Homes supported team.

“A lot of the other guys have got some extra wheel time on us because I didn’t get to race our boat in Australia, guys like Duncan Wilson, Leighton Minnell, Pat Dillon (all from the Wanganui region).”
“One who will be an unknown is Chris Munro (Winton), coming out with his super-charged package.  Daniel Tall is doing a super-charged small-block – he’s South Island as well,” described Burt of the two Mainland entries in the Suzuki Super Boat category.

“Others are increasing their engine horsepower – so they’re upping the ante.”

Competition too in the international Group A class has defending champion Bevan Muir and navigator Kathy Barker against 17 other competitors vying for their 1NZ position.  Benefiting from consistency over Gisborne’s Peter Briant, close competition from Baden Gray (Auckland) ensured the podium battle went to the wire at last season’s final round.

Similarly, in the Jetpro New Zealand Lites class (for engines up to 412 cubic inch in capacity with a restricted Holley carburettor), Dave Stone and navigator Steve Greaves had to maintain their near perfect form to stave off similar reliability from Sam Newdick and father Mark – both of Hamilton.

While the father-son dual driver pairing are moving to the higher-specification international Group A class for the coming season, two Wanganui based teams will fill the class vacancies.  That will see four of the ten teams in the Jetpro New Zealand Lites category start with a home event.

Based eight kilometres north-east of Wanganui, the purpose-built venue at Upokongaro utilises the surrounding amphitheatre hillside to provide elevated views for family groups capitalising on Wanganui’s social weekend.  Held a day after the popular Boxing Day cemetery circuit Wanganui motorcycle street race, the 10,000 spectators to the region often combine both events as part of their holiday break.

Although it won’t be so relaxing for the teams, they do get a four week break before the second round at Featherston (24 January), it is another four weeks until Meremere (21 February), Hawke’s Bay (14 March), Wanganui (10 April – night meeting) with a return to Featherston in the Wairarapa on 24 April where each of the category champions will be crowned.

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Editors note: A full entry list will be published shortly.
Television: Each round will be broadcast on SKY TV beginning in March. (UIM World Championship coverage held in Australia will be on SKY in January and run into first week of February).

2010 Jetpro Jetsprinting New Zealand Championship – season racing calendar
Sunday 27th December 2009 – Rd 1 – Wanganui
Sunday 24th January 2010 – Rd 2 – Featherston
Sunday 21st February 2010 – Rd 3 Meremere
Sunday 14th March 2010 – Rd 4 – Hawke’s Bay
Saturday 10th April 2010 – Rd 5 Wanganui (under lights)
Saturday 24th April – Rd 6 Final – Featherston

Photo image: Heading the assault on the Jetpro Jetsprinting title, Wanganui’s Leighton and Kelly Minnell start the six round 2010 season at their home track.  Photo – Lance Hastie. http://www.comtechnology.co.nz/jetpro/minnell_4170.jpg

About jet sprinting:

Jet sprint venues are often set in a low-lying area where a water supply is available to maintain a stable track level.  Excavated channels allow for a number of configurations, linked to create a track that takes just on a minute to accomplish at speed.
Each boat has a driver and navigator, who must complete the pre-determined course from memory and against the clock.
Following two practise attempts, teams’ enter an elimination cut-off, the eight fastest cut to four and then two for a final run-off.  Times for each previous run are not carried forward and only count toward a personal best mark.
Championship points are awarded on the cut-off finish position in each of the three categories per round.

For more information see www.jetpro.co.nz

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