World Grand Prix Hydroplane Championships- GP1 on Lake Mulwala

by APBA on 19 Oct 2010
Event organisers have just been informed that past World Champion will be testing in preparation for this year’s Union Internationale Motonautique World Championship at Lake Mulwala on Tuesday 26th October.

The U.I.M Grand Prix World Championship is for the fastest automotive powerboats in the world, these craft reach speeds up to 180mph (270kph).

Harrison Australia’s first ever power boating World Champion is keen to recapture the title he won in New Zealand in 2004. His craft ‘GP1’ or GP Hydro’s as they are known will be on the foreshore from 9.30am weather permitting to make adjustments to the set up to the engines and hull.

‘GP1’ as Harrison’s craft is known is powered by a 510ci Supercharged Chevrolet engine and produces 1800hp. In a single race of over 4 laps and in 4 minutes it guzzles 100 litres of methanol.

The driver or pilot as these daredevils are known are sitting in an enclosed cockpit, strapped in by a 5 point safety harness, wear a full jet fighter style helmet with air breathing apparatus and many other safety devices to assist them in case of an accident.

The ‘GP1’ team will have on hand rescue craft and divers, the Grand Prix Hydroplane is launched into the beautiful Lake Mulwala Waters by a crane and each run will last only 5 minutes, in that time Harrison will have covered 4 laps and 8 kilometres.

As the Grand Prix Hydroplane roars across the water, these awesome machines leave huge rooster tails 200 metres long and 50 meters high in their wake.

Harrison, though is under no illusions of how hard it will be to recapture the crown, as 2 other past World Champions will be here in Australia to compete. ‘Shamrock’ the Irish connection piloted by Paul Cunningham won in 2005 and New Zealand hero Warwick Lupton in his ride ‘Annihilator’ won the title in 2008.

In all up to 10 teams are competing and the twin border towns of Yarrawonga and Mulwala will come alive with some fast and furious action.

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Now in its fourth year the Lake Mulwala Power Festival is a family friendly water sports event with plenty of adrenalin pumping on water action. The event also has numerous on land attractions with markets stalls, trade displays of various outdoor leisure and boating equipment along with gourmet food facilities and wine tasting areas. The kids are able to witness the junior classes of power boating the BIA Formula Future class of tomorrow’s champions and water ski and jet sprint boat displays, along with the riders from Whip Industries and their mad motorcycle feats.

Witness all this and the Blown Alcohol Displacement Boats chase the coveted Australasian ‘Marj Watson’ Championship as well.

This makes it an event you must not miss. Keep the last weekend of November 25-28 free and head to Lake Mulwala, Yarrawonga.

In the meantime you can catch Harrison and the GP1 go through their paces on Tuesday 26th October at Lake Mulwala on the Yarrawonga foreshore from 9.30am.

For further information and bookings contact Yarrawonga Mulwala Tourism on 1 800-062-260 or Cobram Barooga information on 1 800-607-607.

Be there....

See www.lakemulwlalapower.com.au or www.gpworlds.vicapba.com.au