Superboat Championship -- Round One
Spectators enjoy big-wave action in NewcastleThe first round of the 2012 Offshore Superboat Championships got under way in Newcastle over the weekend.
Twelve boats representing three classes lined up at the start line to give spectators a thrilling display of high-octane racing.
"All three categories put on a great show and were really close and competitive, it was tough in the swell but most boats handled the 3.5-metre waves really well," Offshore Superboat Championship President, Adam Gilbert said.
After securing pole position, Maritimo's Main Lube Express held out an initial challenge from Team 3 and brothers Brendan and Christopher Freir from The Good Guys to take out Race One honours in the Supercat 1000hp category.
Kwozzy 2 was the last boat racing in the 600hp Class, after pole position holders BBC Digital, were forced to retire and Sydney based, SUV Dodge Ram didn't get the start they were hoping for in their new boat, a blown gearbox taking them out of the race on lap five.
In the 400hp class, father and son team, Michael and Gryff Ethell in Team 88 Offshore Racing and Mick Walker and Gary Smith from Team Phantom, had crowds on their feet as the two raced side-by-side swapping the lead for much of the race, before Team 88's race came to an abrupt end with broken engine mount bolts taking them out of the competition.
Round Two of the Offshore Superboat Championships will be held in Mackay on 23-24 June.
1st: Maritimo MainLube Express - Darren Nicholson and Peter McGrath
2nd: The Good Guys - Chris Frier and Brendan Frier
3rd: Global Racing - Mike Beil and Chris Hanley
4th: Australian Vehicle - Wholesale Mark Harrison and Craig Purton
DNF: Team 3 - Steve Jellick and Travis Thompson
Supercat 600HP
1st: Kwozzy - Jim Harris and Paul Fowlds
DNF: B.B.C Digital - Graham Fraser and Scott Gehrman
DNF: SUV Dodge Ram Conn Saloumidis and Brett Luhrmann
Supercat 400HP
1st: Phantom - Mick Walker and Gary Smith
2nd: Shaken Not Stirred - Brian Dale and Booke Ullrich
DNF: 88 Offshore Racing - Michael Ethell and Gryff Ethell
DNF: Team Eight - Greg Collins and Karl Wall
DNF: Its About Time - Mark Taylor and Nigel Craven
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