High-speed jet sprints back at Mount Maunganui's Baypark Stadium

Leighton Minnell, left, and Poison Ivy driver Rob Coley at ASB Baypark. Photo / George Novak

The spectacular ENZED Stadium Jet Sprints Cup action returns to Mount Maunganui's ASB Baypark Stadium today.After missing out on the circuit last year a crowd of about 14,000 is expected to turn out at the Baypark venue to witness a unique piece of live sporting theatre.

The high-octane V8 boats, capable of reaching speeds of 140km/h in under two seconds, are sure to thrill with the bonus of an enthralling light show when the boats and track are illuminated.

One of the favourites to take out the SuperBoat division is Poison Ivy driven by Rob Coley, with his wife Ange Coley navigating.

Coley is looking forward to returning to Mount Maunganui in what is a hugely popular event among all the drivers, including a strong contingent from Australia.

"I love the crowd. The crowd is fantastic and just being able to drive in front of 14,000 people, not that you see a lot going those sort of speeds. It is certainly challenging. The hardest aspect of it is the track is sand, and it does collapse all around you, so you never know what you are going to get," he said.

"Every run is different. I wrote a boat off here at the world champs doing exactly that."
Coley speaks for everyone involved with the jet sprints in wanting the ASB Baypark Stadium venue to be on the circuit every year.

"I think it is great for the sport and the growing of the sport. I think it is crucial to our event. I see Baypark and other stadiums as the future of our sport. I think it will be fantastic to see the crowds.

"We have some amazing tracks and venues out there, but they are not in the best places. We need to take our sport to the people instead of the people to the sport."

Coley admits he was lucky to survive a horror crash at his home course in Whanganui last year. It may have severely dented his boat but not his confidence ahead of today's featured SuperBoats racing.

"I am feeling pretty confident, to be honest, but it does depend on the day. You can have motor issues, and other things go wrong, but certainly, I am feeling good. It certainly will be all on as there is some good strong competition in this series. Last time we came runner-up here, and we haven't been back for two years."

President of the NZ Jet Sprints Association Leighton Minnell called Baypark "the Holy Grail of jet sprinting".

"The guys come into an arena with thousands of people here. With lots of our events around the country we don't get this close feel, the noise, the crowd and the water is flowing, and the track is a lot tighter.

"It is a really, really exciting day for the public. Things happen, there are usually lots of thrills and spills. I love the whole stadium atmosphere and after two years away it is great to bring back the event. We have 30 of the top boats here so it will be red-hot racing."

ENZED Stadium Jet Sprints Cup
ASB Baypark Stadium, today
12.30pm Practice and qualifying rounds
3pm Gates open to the public. Altherm Family Fun zone next to Gate 2.
3-4pm Qualifying rounds all classes
5pm Official event start, parade of race teams
10pm Official event end
Tickets: www.eventfinda.co.nz, at the gates