Pressure builds in title races

Wanganui's Richard Murray wants to overtake Hamilton's Sam Newdick on the Group A points table this Sunday during Round 3 of the 2014 NZ Jetsprint Championship Series.Photo/Neil Jones

IT'S ALL about putting the pedal to the metal at the Meremere Sprint Bowl this Sunday and Wanganui's jetsprint drivers will need to handle the pace in Auckland as the 2014 NZ Jetsprint Championship Series heats up.

Entering Round 3, defending Group As champion Richard Murray remains locked in a tight battle with Hamilton's Sam Newdick, who has picked up back to back wins at Shelter View on December 27 and the new ASB Baypark Stadium track on January 25.

It mirrors last season where Newdick won four straight rounds then came third before blowing out badly in the final event at Shelter View to hand Murray the title.

However, Murray is already having a better run with his boat than last year, which saw a coil lead make the engine "miss" during the first few rounds, a broken grill to be fixed, and then the big roll which injured regular navigator Kesty Manning, leading brother-in-law Ian Carter to substitute.

Murray said there were times they had to race without a working temperature gauge, then a muffler blew off, so he is already feeling better about their chances after two relatively smooth rounds.

It is only basic tinkering and running compressed air through the engine to check for leaks that needs to be done at this stage.

"It's all good, we just did a little bit to the boat the last two weeks and hopefully it's gained us a little bit as well," said Murray.

"I'm looking for a few more revs. Meremere, your foot will be to the floor the whole way.

"I do need to get [Newdick] on this one so we don't end up with a draw on the points. Otherwise I'll need him to do what he did last year."

Situated next to the famous Champion Drag Raceway on State Highway 1, Meremere is a speed track for jetsprints much different to the narrow and gnarly channels that tested driver mettle at Baypark.

In the 400s, Hayden Wilson had initially been happy to take it as it comes in his debut driver season, but leading the pack with a massive logjam behind him has the Wanganui native re-assessing his prospects.

"They've definitely changed," Wilson said. "My goal was to do the best I could, first round. Then in Wanganui when we were the quickest all day, the Top 5 was not really satisfying."

Wilson beached during the Top 5 eliminator at Shelter View, but made up for it with his first round victory at Baypark.

"As we've been doing so well I'd be disappointed if we didn't end up with a number on the boat at the end of the season, and hopefully it's 1NZ, and then we'll see about next year," Wilson said. "Everyone seemed to step it up this year but I'm quite confident, if we can keep the boat in the water."

Wilson was the navigator of the White Noize boat for championship-winner Gerry Linklater last season and moved over to the right-hand side seat with 16-year-old student Chris Hausman taking his old spot.

The youngster has adapted well to learning the course rotations and giving his hand directions the way Wilson wants.

Also needing a big round will be the top drivers in the Superboat class as topsy-turvy results in the first two rounds has the points table somewhat inverted.

Wanganui's Leighton Minnell sits fourth, one point behind defending champion Peter Caughey and top Australian Phonsy Mullan, with these three likely podium placeholders instead playing catchup.

Time constraints at Baypark turned the Superboats class into a crapshoot and meant Wanaka's Dave Hopkins finished with his second straight runner-up placing to lead the series.

After a decade in the sport, Hastings' Graeme Hill was the surprise round winner and is second overall ahead of first round winner Mullan.