Jetsprints: Locals home in on top places

After finishing seventh at the last two rounds, Wanganui Superboat driver Leighton Minnell came second in the fourth round at Hawkes Bay's Crownthorpe track on Sunday. Photo/File

Wanganui jet sprinters are close to cementing top three places in all classes of the Jetsprint Championship Series but claiming top of the dais remains elusive after the short-track racing at Crownthorpe on Sunday.

Leighton Minnell had his best round since the series opener at Shelter View, coming second in the Suzuki Super Boats behind Hastings local Graeme Hill, who with his second win is now a favourite for the championship.

After the setback of having his Round 2 points scratched despite winning at ASB Baypark Stadium in January, 400's series driver Hayden Wilson was second behind Taupo's Warren Farr, while making up one point on series leader Brett Thompson of Piopio, who finished third.

In Group A, Richard Murray was third behind Hamilton's Sam Newdick, while Australian Paul Gaston won his second round in a row - Newdick and Gaston taking turns claiming round victories with Murray always snapping at their heels, including the wiped Baypark results.

Minnell, who is running the Superboat he repurchased for this campaign, moves up one spot to fourth overall in the championship series, in touching distance of Australian Phonsy Mullan, who did not make the top three eliminator at Crownthorpe.

"It's a short track, Hastings, so heading there we knew we would have a shot," he said.

"We were pretty happy with that, about 0.4 of a second off [Hill]. It's tighter than a pair of underpants on the hook.

"Graeme Hill is going great he deserves it, he's got a great package."

Minnell's wife and regular navigator Kellie did not make the trip as she had a school commitment in Wanganui early yesterday morning, so the world champion took his cousin Matt on the white-knuckled rides instead.

"He was chundering his ring out, the faster we went the more came out. I don't know if he'll ever forget the day."

Hill's fastest time of the round was 47 seconds, which was slower than defending champion Peter Caughey (46.1).

However, Hill and Minnell both drove well in the final eliminator while the Cantabrian had difficulties and had to settle for third.

Minnell said while he is confident of overtaking Mullan to secure third in the series, the "writing's on the wall" for winning the championship, with Caughey and Hill settling that between them.

In the 400's, Wilson is still eyeing the title in his rookie driver season after being quicker than Thompson for the third straight round.

However, Farr also brought himself back into series contention as he constantly improved his times at Crownthorpe before snatching the top-three eliminator.

Wilson had been quickest all day as he drove three eliminators in a row at 53.8 seconds, with Farr reaching 54 seconds flat to qualify for the final three.

Farr then pulled a 53.6, while Wilson experienced a "flip" in his jet unit and eventually managed a 53.9 time, while Thompson trailed with 54.6.

Wilson and Minnell are looking forward to Round 5, back at their home track of Shelter View on April 5.

The night round is a famous leveller on the more powerful boats because drivers have to throttle back a touch in the dark conditions.

"Brett hasn't done too well under lights, so I'm hoping that will help us," said Wilson.

For Murray, his podium placing at Crownthorpe will move him back to clear third overall in the Group A series after the scratching of points from January saw him tied with Waitotara's Duncan Wilson.

However, the overall six-point gap to Gaston and Newdick remains the same, so the New Zealand Jetsprint Association committee chairman will need the fates to go his way in both Shelter View and the final round at Wanaka on April 18.