National Championships Round 3: Stewartby Lakes
The JC Racing Team competed in the final round of the national championships at Stewartby Lakes at the weekend. The team still had a chance of winning the overall national title, and it was to go down to the final race of the season to see which hydroplane driver would be crowned the 2009 national champion.
With Wayne Turner leading Julian Codling by four points going into the final round of the championship the objective was clear for the JC Racing Team. Win the meeting and rely on Wayne not finishing higher than third position to be crowned national champions.
Qualifying proved the JC Racing Team were well up for the challenge qualifying first ahead of Paul Jillings in a similar 250cc GRM powered Andick hull, and the more powerful outfits of Nigel Edwards (350cc GRM powered Mostes hull), Mike Smith (350cc VRP powered Banshee hull), and Peter Rix (700cc Konny powered Ringwood hull).
The first heat saw team driver Julian fly away from the jetty with the 250cc GRM powered Andick hydroplane and reaching speeds of 95mph, he was able to hold off a very strong challenge from the powerful 700cc Konny powered hydroplane of Peter Rix. Unfortunately for Peter a blade came off the propeller and his race came to an end resulting in Julian Codling taking an impressive first heat win ahead of Paul Jillings in second and Mike Smith in third.
Sunday saw another glorious day of sunshine at Stewartby lakes and ideal conditions for powerboat racing. Having been unable to attend the first day, championship leader Wayne Turner arrived for the Sunday racing with the 125cc VRP powered Trombetta outfit.
After a quick practice session to determine handicaps it was decided Wayne would complete one lap less in the 125cc outfit in relation to the more powerful 250cc, 350cc and 700cc competitors.
Race two saw JC Racing Team driver Julian once again rocket away from the start line with Peter Rix in close attention as they completed the first lap. On lap three Peter in the 700cc outfit finally forced his way past Julian and set about catching Wayne Turner in the 125cc VRP powered Trombetta outfit.
On the final lap Peter overtook Wayne for the race win with JC Racing Team driver Julian bearing down on Wayne as they approached the final corner. Wayne was just able to hold on to second place with Julian following closely behind in third just unable to make up the handicap by around five seconds.
The third heat once again saw Julian and Peter pull away from the start line trying to catch Wayne who had the one lap advantage. Peter's 700cc Konny Engine decided to stop mid race as Julian tried to catch Wayne. Putting in faster laps, Julian still could not quite make up the one lap deficit entering the final corner as Wayne took the third heat race win.
The final race saw Wayne's handicap shortened by five seconds but unfortunately for Wayne on the first turn he hit some rough water and the engine stopped. Putting in his fastest lap times of the weekend (44 sec's), Julian took the 250cc GRM powered Andick hull to the heat four race win ahead of Nigel Edwards with the 350cc GRM powered Mostes hull and Peter Rix taking third with the 700cc Konny powered outfit.
With the drivers best three out of the four heats counting the final standing saw Julian win the final round of the national championship for the JC Racing team with an impressive 1100 points (1st, 2nd, 1st). Second went to Wayne Turner with 700 points (1st, 2nd, DNF). Third place went to Peter Rix with 625 points (1st, 3rd, DNF) with Mike Smith finishing fourth (619 points), Nigel Edwards fifth (469 points), and Paul Jillings finishing sixth (395 points).
Despite winning the final round convincingly it was not enough for the JC Racing Team to take the 2009 National Hydroplane title. Wayne's second place on the day was enough to retain the National Championship title, with Julian and the JC Racing Team once again finishing runner up by just one point.
Final Standing |
Driver |
Engine/Boat |
Round 1Oulton Broad |
Round 2Kinsbury Water Park |
Round 3Stewartby Lakes |
TotalPoints |
1st |
Wayne Turner |
125 cc VRP/Trombetta |
17 PTS |
15 PTS |
17 PTS |
49 PTS |
2nd |
Julian Codling |
250cc GRM/Andick |
11 PTS |
17 PTS |
20 PTS |
48 PTS |
3rd |
Peter Rix |
700cc Konny/Ringwood |
15 PTS |
13 PTS |
15 PTS |
43 PTS |
4th |
Nigel Edwards |
350cc GRM/Mostes |
- |
20 PTS |
11 PTS |
31 PTS |
5th |
Keith McVeigh |
500cc Konny/Ringwood |
20 PTS |
11 PTS |
- |
31 PTS |
6th |
Mike Smith |
350cc VRP/Banshee |
- |
- |
15 PTS |
15 PTS |
7th |
Brett Duncan |
350cc VRP/Banshee |
- |
- |
13 PTS |
13 PTS |
| 8th | Malcolm Goodman | 250cc GRM/Andick |
- |
10 PTS |
- |
10 PTS |
9th |
Paul Jillings |
250cc GRM/Andick |
- |
- |
10 PTS |
10 PTS |
10th |
Matthew Lockwood |
500cc GRM/Hydrocat |
- |
- |
10 PTS |
10 PTS |
Despite finishing the national season strongly, it was down to the JC Racing team to reflect on what could have been after a disappointing opening round at Oulton Broad.
Photographs of the final round at Stewartby Lakes can be found by visiting the multimedia section of the website or clicking on the link below.
