Jetsprint NZ Series: Graeme Hill credits pit crew for win after roll

Hawke's Bay's Graeme Hill, right, and navigator Tracey Webster in Liquid Gold on their way to victory in the Superboat class during yesterday's Crownthorpe-hosted fourth round in the national Jetsprint Series. Photo/Glenn Taylor

No matter what variety of motorsport one is in the driver is often only as good as the work the crew puts in behind the scenes.

Hawke's Bay jetboat driver Graeme Hill was quick to acknowledge the work his crew did after he and navigator Tracey Webster raced Liquid Gold to victory in the Suzuki Super Boat class at the Crownthorpe-hosted fourth round of the national jetsprint series yesterday.

"After our mishap in the last round it took a big effort from the crew to get us here. It was a huge race against time and we only finished everything yesterday," he explained.

Hill was referring to a spectacular barrel roll which ended his day's racing in the Meremere-hosted third round on February 9.

"We collected quite a bit of damage at Meremere and had a different bottom today. While my best time of 47 seconds today wasn't the fastest, we had an incident free day whereas Peter [South Islander Peter Caughey] had the fastest time of 46.1 seconds but experienced a bit of difficulty."

Hill will take a six-point lead into the Wanganui-hosted fifth round on April 5 and will also race the sixth and final round on April 18.

A Hastings nursery business operator, Hill also won the Bay Park-hosted second round in the series in January and finished fourth in the Wanganui-hosted fourth round in December. Yesterday's success has increased Hill's determination to compete in the two-round World Series to be raced in the United States in August.

Second place in his class yesterday went to Wanganui driver Leighton Minnell and New Plymouth navigator Kellie Minnell in Hydraulink. Caughey and navigator Karen Marshall in Enzed/Trojan/Total Oil were third.

Australian driver Paul Gaston and Wanganui navigator Louise Blythe won the PSP Group A class in Hurricane. Hamilton's Sam Newdick and Gisborne navigator Glenn Mason in PSP were second and Wanganui's Richard Murray and Kesty Manning in Mean Machine were third.

Taupo driver Warren Farr and Hamilton navigator Ben Thomas in The Black Pearl won the 400s class. Second place went to rookie driver Hayden Wilson and Chris Hausman of Wanganui in White Noize and Pio Pio's Brett Thompson and Wanganui's Stu White in TNT were third.

The all-female crew of Hawke's Bay driver Pip Thompson and Canterbury navigator Megan Brodie in "The Bitches Box" were 13th in the 400s class.

"Today was the first time in the series I put my foot right down," Thompson remarked.

Her partner David Simmons and navigator John Verry of Napier, racing Blue Flame, were ninth in the Super boat class. Engine issues prevented Hawke's Bay navigator Tanya Iremonger and Auckland Group A class driver Baden Gray from getting out on the track.

Organiser Peter Connor was rapt with the turnout of 42 crews, the biggest the track has hosted, and said the venue is likely to host a round in the series again next year.

There were no major mishaps and Wanganui Super Boat class driver Stu Bron was the only competitor to require assistance from medics after colliding with the tyre wall.