Last year, as an 18-year-old, Jack Lupton was the youngest driver to win the Masport Cup in its nine-decade history.
This time on Lake Karapiro, a mixed field of grand prix hydroplanes, formula one tunnels and grand national hydroplanes battled it out over four laps of a 2km course, consisting of two heats.
Denise Preece, director of Acceleration on Water Ltd, said Jack Lupton took out the first heat in his Rural Fuels 57 craft in a spectacular battle with Warwick in the Annihilator boat.
However, in the second heat, Lupton junior's 510 cu m engine, with its 1500hp, failed to fire.
When adding the overall points together, Warwick had claimed the cup with Cantabrian Raymond Hart second and Jack Lupton third.
At this point, Warwick Lupton stepped out of the Annihilator to allow Jamie Lee Lupton to make history in the Dennis Taylor Memorial competition, which is a beach start race.
The young woman had a memorable debut, as she made a quick start in the battle with Hart, but then a broken fuel line caused the boat to catch on fire.
"The quick response of our on-water rescue teams put the fire out," said Preece.
Action then switched to Lake Rotoiti at the Nelson Lakes for round three of the NZ F1 Powerboat Tour, where the AE Baker, South Island Grand Prix and King of the Lake crowns were all contested.
It was a smaller field with no Australians making the trip to try and regain the trophy, while defending AE Baker champion David Alexander, cousin to the Luptons, withdrew with a back injury and Warwick Lupton's team were not able to repair the Annihilator in time.
The event was also raced in two heats with overall points deciding the winner.
"A spectacular race by Rural Fuels 57, who mowed down the field in the two heats winning by a quarter of a lap on the rest of the field," said Preece of Jack Lupton's victory. "Brother Ken driving 'Lucas Oils' had no answer for his younger brother as he battled over the four laps to catch him, with 'The Boss' Raymond Hart in third."
Moving on to contest the South Island Grand Prix, Jack Lupton took out the first heat in 2m 52s over the four laps, again destroying the field.
However, like Lake Karapiro, the second heat did not go well as Lupton took a wave over the bow before the start and was flooded, not making the start line and opening the door for Hart to win.
Understandably annoyed with his bad luck, Lupton went back out for the King of the Lake race, and won it with good driving style from Hart and another South Islander in 'Lone Wolf', Jeff Price.
At the ceremony, Jack Lupton was presented with the AE Baker championship, making him the third direct family member to hold it after Warwick and Ken, as well as the youngest.
"Congratulations must also go to his young team, Tom Symes and Willy Reid, also local Wanganui boys who went to school with Jack," said Preece.
"Every team must have some wise experience - along with father Warwick, long-time team member Richard Corbett has taken the young team under his wing."
Jack Lupton also credited local engine builder Grant Rivers from Rivers Speed and Spares for his work on Rural Fuels 57.
