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[V8SB] Fireworks set for Maryborough!
by Sean Henshelwood
Maryboroughexpecting major fireworks…!
Preview: Rnd#4 Continental Tyres AustralianSuperboat Championships
Susan River Raceway, Maryborough, QLD
25 August, 2010
There’s no denying that season 2010 has beenexceptional for V8 Superboats, with record entries, more twists and turns than a Hollywood blockbuster, and just as many hits... Coming into the penultimate round of the Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championships during the first weekend of September, there’s nothing separating the leading contenders in Unlimited Superboats or the 400 Class as they prepare to lock horns one more time at Maryborough’s Susan River Raceway.
There is just five points between reigning national Unlimited champion - former Kiwi Daryl Hutton, and the man who would be king, reigning world and Australian 400 Class champion Slade Stanley. There’s no love lost between the two, with Stanley so far holding the psychological advantage despite campaigning a borrowed boat in all three rounds so far..
“2010 has been a bit of a surprise to be honest,” the Wagga local acknowledged. “We weren’t expecting big things this year coming into the Unlimited class with our 2009 Group A [400 Class] package. We knew if we could match our pace from last year we’d run top five, but the engine suffered dramas before the first round of the season, so we’ve had to jump into ‘Canberra Floorcraft’ alongside boat owner Paul Burgess to pick up what we could of the season.. But it actually hasn’t been bad..”
Hasn’t been bad, is ‘Stanley-speak’ for one crushing round win (Griffith) and two runner-up positions to Hutton from three rounds, and a five point deficit in the title race.
For Maryborough, the fight will be on again, after Hutton took victory at Cabarita with Stanley suffering cavitation problems in the Canberra boat, although it didn’t repair the wounds Stanley’s 1.7 second margin of victory (light years in Superboat terms) at Griffith created, but it did give Hutton and the ‘Castrol Edge’ team the advantage heading to Queensland.
As for Stanley, he’ll be back behind the wheel of ‘Canberra Floorcraft’ and looking for another win at Susan River. “My boat is still at home in the shed, so I’ll be doubling up again with the boys from the ACT, but we’ve done some homework this time round to combat the dramas from the last round [Cabarita] so we should be able to make the most of that 1000+ horsepower we have and challenge again for the win.”
If the anticipation of a Stanley vs Hutton; Australia vs New Zealand battle wasn’t enough, throw in the returning 2008 Unlimited champion [and the winner 12 months ago at Susan River] Dean Finch in his ‘awesome’ twin-turbo, 1600hp ‘Loose Cannon’ and former Group A champion Phonsy Mullan in his 1500hp pro-charged boat ‘RAM-JET’ and you have at least four outright contenders. That would be enough for even the most stout of horsepower fanatics, but Superboats is about more than just brute horsepower, finesse and weight also play a part, and two of the best handling boats in the world, ‘Az U Do’ who was winner last time out at Maryborough in June, and ‘Excalibur’ which finished runner-up in the championship in 2009, are also inthe mix. What that means is that with this little lot you have the recipe for mass excitement, and some would say; with the margins of victory now down to hundredths of a second - the potential for one very big off..
It’s not just the Unlimited class though that will keep the crowd on their feet, the 400 Class battle too is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested in recent years, with just 11 points covering the top three championship contenders, and just seven points between positions four and six..
The odds-on favourite for the championship crown,Ted Sygidus is holding down second place in the points race, four points in arrears of his younger brother, and reigning world #2, Darek.
In any other situation, this would be pressure enough for both brothers, but the problem is compounded with the Victorian based business partners sharing the same boat. For Darek, he could quite happily finish second in all but one or two of the 12 races yet to run (six races per round); for Ted, he needs to be a picture of speed and consistency and weather the pressure. The problem though is that if either driver oversteps the mark [as Ted did at Cabarita] and put the boat out of the water with serious damage, both will be out of the title race, all but handing 2002 champion, ‘Mr Consistent’ Rohan Smith, a possible second national crown..
The pressure doesn’t end there though… In 2009 there was just one other driver outside of Slade Stanley to win a round of the 400 class championship; her name.. Brooke Dixon (Hi-Tec Racing). Currently Brooke sits in fifth place, just 19 points in arrears of Smith, and in the past she has been an outright winner at both Maryborough and Temora, the scene of the national final in October [30-31], so she also poses a serious threat to the championship leaders.
Throw in Mildura’s Rob Colman who narrowly defeated reigning 350 class champion Jake Garlick last time round at Susan River in June, former 350 class champions and new 400 class recruits Brooke Lucas and Mark Garlick, and emerging South Australian speedsters Daniel Walton and Damian O’Leary, and you’re not likely to be spending much time sitting during the event, the excitement will be fever pitch..!
Whilst the ‘big boys’ [and girls] battle out the international classes, much local attention will be focussed on the 350 class where a string of Queensland regulars will be out to combat the series domination of Victorian Daniel James (Stingray Racing).
James holds a 28 point lead over Brisbane’s Daniel deVoigt after three rounds, but it is the battle further back between Noosaville’s David Penfold (Wicked Ways) and Maryborough local Col Bellert (Evil As) that will grab most attention. Bellert stunned the majority of the Superboat field at Temora during the season opener with second outright. He went into round two at Griffith full of anticipation after a number of seasons battling to be in a position to fight for outright honours, but it all came unstuck with a boat bending end to his weekend, and a trip to Griffith Hospital for his troubles.
“That took the edge off a little,” the 350 class veteran admitted. “It was a bit of a costly repair, and despite the boat being back up to speed, it’s taken me a little longer.
“At Susan River during the state championshipround in June I just couldn’t find a good rhythm and didn’t feel 100% comfortable, but I should be right for the national round because that third place in the national points is still within reach.”
One driver that will need a couple of faultless runs though in an endeavour to take Bellerts place will be David Penfold. Back from a sabbatical away from the sport for a number of seasons, Penfold’s return came earlier in the year with success during the state rounds at both Cabrita and Maryborough, so his form is good. Whether he can take victory away from James will be an interesting battle in itself, but the big push will be to make up for missing the southern rounds earlier in the year in an attempt to take third in the Continental Tyres supported national championship.
As ever, you can catch all the action from the 2010 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).
The Continental Tyres Australian Superboat Championship is proudly supported by; Continental Tyres, North Star Mildura Motors Mercedes Benz and 321Ignition Magazine.
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2010 Continental Tyres Australian SuperboatChampionships
Unlimited Superboat
Championship points (after three rounds of five)*
1. Daryl Hutton (176 points), 2. Slade Stanley (171), 3. Greg Mercier (138), 4.Mick Carroll (133), 5. Phonsy Mullan (125), 6. Andrew Page (109), 7. Adam Raverty (97), 8. Paul Burgess (92), 9. Peter Freckleton (85), 10. Jody Ely (83), 11. Dean Finch (37)
*championship points are calculated from the best four point scoring rounds (of five)
International Group A (400 Class)
Championship points (points after three rounds of five)*
1. Darek Sygidus (152 points), 2. Ted Sygidus (148), 3. Rohan Smith (141), 4. Robert Colman (127), 5. Brooke Dixon (122), 6. Daniel Walton (120), 7. Jake Garlick (106), 8. Mark Garlick (96), 9. Damian O’Leary (93), 10. Brooke Lucas (79), 11. Mick Manini (64), 12. Rodney Krause (58), 13. Tremayne Jukes (51), 14. Greg Harriman (47), 15. Louise Dixon (36), 16. Kevin Laugesen (30), 17. Chris Bollins (30), 18. Shane Loughnan (25), 19. Kieran Krause (23), 20. Tony Whalan (20)
*championship points are calculated from the best four point scoring rounds (of five)
350Class
Championship points (points after three rounds of five*)
1. Daniel James (173 points), 2. Daniel deVoigt (145), 3. David Blake (117), 4. Shane Andrew (109), 5. Colin Bellert (106), 6. Robert Hallum (97), 7. Troy McKenzie (70), 8. Matt Selby (60), 9. David Penfold (54), 10. Nathan Dickenson (50), 11. Shane Allen (45), 12. Glenn Arundel (43), 13. Rhiannon Dickenson (10), 13. Betina Dickenson (10)
*
*championship points are calculated from the best four point scoring rounds (of five)
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