[BOATS] Second for Conti at Griffith

by Sean Henshelwood

(Archived)


Coming into the midpoint of the 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships, 350 Class contender Chris Bollins was full of hope for a successful Easter, and whilst quick from the outset, even he didn’t expect to end the weekend on the second step of the podium.

Stunning second for Conti at Griffith
Rnd#3 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships
Lake Wyangan, Griffith, NSW
10-11 April, 2009

Coming into the midpoint of the 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships, 350 Class contender Chris Bollins was full of hope for a successful Easter, and whilst quick from the outset, even he didn’t expect to end the weekend on the second step of the podium.

“I’ve put a few ‘demon’ tweaks into the boat for this weekend,” Stingray Racing’s Tremayne Jukes [TJ] admitted post-event. “I’m glad they worked.. I’ve been working hard to develop the boat since we built it late last year so that it’s ready for round four and a 400 Class debut…!”

“The boat’s awesome,” Chris Bollins admitted at the close of Friday’s two opening qualifiers. “It’s just so easy to drive, I’m rapt..”

Adding to his comfort in the new Stingray hull, were his times; by the close of two qualifying sessions Bollins was holding down second position overall, half a second behind Stingray team-mate Brooke Lucas, and two seconds faster than 350 Class points leader and championship favourite, Jake Garlick.. “Let’s see what tomorrow brings,” Chris beamed..

Fortunately for the Conti team, Saturday’s final three qualifiers brought even greater joy, Chris qualifying in position two, a mere two tenths of a second behind the recovering Jake Garlick.. “This has been our plan since starting the season with the new boat,” team-boss John Bollins admitted, “now it’s down to Chris to do what he can through the finals..”

Unfortunately for Chris he dropped seven tenths of a second in the top ten shootout, however his time was still good enough for third and a berth in the final.

“I think it’s more nerves than anything,” he admitted afterwards.

A quick chat with Stingray manufacturer and new team-mate Tremayne Jukes settled his mind prior to the final run, and it paid dividends.. Jake Garlick was first boat out in the final, the Queensland teenager setting a blistering 42.356. Chris was next up, and to the first split he was just over a tenth off Jake’s pace, although by race end that margin had stretched to over a second (43.718).

The whole Conti team then waited with baited breath to see what former champion Mark Garlick could find. At the first split he all but matched son Jake’s pace, and was looking good, but over the final sector of the lap, he too fell away, a 43.940 forcing rapturous applause from the Conti camp to celebrate Chris’ result.

“That’s awesome,” Chris grinned, “I couldn’t be happier. I have to thank TJ too, he said to me before the final three that the worst I could do was third and that I was on the podium and should be proud of that, and to go out and have a good time. That relaxed me and I just concentrated on the lap, not the result.”

Despite an outstanding result, the 350 Class will no longer see Conti-Racer fighting for victory, the popular Queensland team ‘moving up’ to the hotly contested Group A (400 Class) category from round four..

“Our original plan was to contest the 350 Class championship this year with a view to winning races, but we’d dearly like to run the UIM World Championships in November and to do that we need to progress to Group A (400 Class) sooner rather than later,” John Bollins confirmed. “TJ has an awesome new engine coming along, and it would be nice to se him back in one of his boats [Jukes currently sharing driving duties with Slade Stanley in Group A], so it made sense all round.. I can’t wait..!”

The Conti-Racer team will now work on converting their gorgeous black boat to Group A specification prior to the next event – the opening round of the Queensland Championships set down for Cabarita (near Tweed Heads) on June 6-7. The penultimate round of the Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships will be held at Maryborough (Queensland) on September 5-6.

You can catch all the action from the 2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships on SBS Speedweek and FOX Sports 'Inside Speed' (check local guides and keep an eye on www.v8superboats.com.au for dates and times).

Conti-Racer is proudly supported by; Continental Tyres, QTR Tyre Professionals, Tyres 4U, Loose Kid Industries, ANZ Wheels, Bandag and Stingray Boats.

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2009 Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships

350 Class (drivers points after Rnd#3 of 5)
1. Jake Garlick/Dem Garlick (140), 2. Mark Garlick/Kerry Garlick (130), 3. Daniel James/Andrew Phillips (108), 4. Chris Bollins/Aaron Morrisby (103), 5. Brooke Lucas/Nat Whalan (101), 6. Jamie Taylor (90), 7. Nathan Dickenson (88), 8. Darryl Squires (58), 9. Glenn Arundel (44), 10. Daryl Dickenson (42), 11. Troy McKenzie (33), 12. Robert Hallum/Pam Bulmer (24), 13. David Blake/Debbie Pitt (23), 14. Shane Allen (10)

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