Aegean takes round 1 Offshore Superboat Series at Newcastle.
The team of Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Virik Nilsen aboard Aegean showed the Offshore Superboat Championship fleet a clean pair of heels by winning The Newcastle Classic, round 1 of the 2010 series.
Aegean lead Class 1 from start to finish ahead of stable mates Maritimo and The Good Guys. The rough conditions outside the harbour took its toll on the field with Impact steel and Acme both rough water specialists falling by wayside in what can only be described as their water.
In the Supercat class The Good Guys with the North Queensland brothers Brendon and Chris Friar had a sensational start to the season taking first in class and third overall for the day. Global racing (Mike Beil & Steve Jellick) were hoping to celebrate a reunion of the two drivers having been with different teams for several seasons only to suffer from a hose failure putting an end to their day and continuing an unhappy relationship with the Newcastle track for the boat. Team three (Craig Archer & Steve Nugent) are still on duty in New Zealand and will return for the next round in Mackay, unquestionably a much stronger foe having the added experience from their international campaign.
With the growth of Supercat class here in Australia, Team 3 may have stirred the Trans Tasman blood a little with their success in New Zealand this season. The rumor mill is that possibly two of the leading New Zealand teams may cross the ditch in an attempt to secure some of the Australian silverware this season. Possibly as soon as the next round (Mackay), pending some logistical issues. Definitely adding some serious competition to a great class of racing.
Supercat 600hp was set to be a battle between SUV Dodge Ram (Cameron Davis & Brett Luhrmann) and Kwozzy (Jim Harris & Adam Nicolls) .Unfortunately the battle didn’t eventuate. Kwozzy missed the start and then had to battle electrical and steering issues for the entire race gifting a perfect start to the season for the SUV Dodge ram team.
Supercat 400hp also a hotly contested class was dominated by FGI with Mick Walker and Gary Smith piloting an almost faultless race in trying conditions to not only take first place but be the first outboard class boat home beating the likes of SUV Dodge Ram and the wounded Kwozzy. Hogs Breath Offshore Racing with Paul Gibbs and Paul Fowlds aboard came in second. Grumpy Mongrel returned after crashing out of the Geelong round last season with Peter Jack at the wheel and Mike Ethell in the back seat of the unique shaped mono hull Berwicks suffered an engine failure with Shaken not stirred also coming to grief with gearbox issues.
The beautiful location of North Queensland is set too host the next 2 rounds of the series. MacKay 26th and 27th June then Townsville 3rd and 4th July. Mackay is hosting its first ever event and is definitely going to be a first class show with such a great location and spectator friendly track.
The Offshore Superboat Championship wish to thank fgi Fiber Glass International and Hunter Development Corporation for their support at the Newcastle event.
By OSC media, Wednesday 14th April 2010
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