Smokin' hot on the water

THE FAVOURITE: Kiwi No1 and world champion Peter Caughey will be the one to beat in the superboat class at round one of the New Zealand Jetsprint Championship in Wanganui on Saturday.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

THE outcome of round one of the PSP New Zealand Jetsprint Championship in Wanganui on Saturday looks as simple as one, two, three.

On paper at least, the Suzuki Grand Vitara-sponsored Superboats class appears to be a tussle among the podium finishers in last season's championships.

Leading the charge is reigning New Zealand No1 and world champion Peter Caughey and navigator Karen Marshall with Kiwi No2 Graeme Hill and Tracey Webster in Liquid Gold and former Wanganui racers Leighton and Kellie Minnell ranked No3 in Taranaki Hardcore.

While the Minnells are ranked third in the country they can never be discounted. They are former world and national champions.

Phonsy Mullan, the Australian No1 driver would have liked to add the Kiwi title to his trophy cabinet, but will not be competing in round one.

The competition will still be fiercely contended with Wanganui teams like Poison Ivy and the Hulk anxious to give a good show in front of their home crowd at the Shelter View Jetsprint Track at Upokongaro.

Whatever the outcome in the superboat class it is sure to be an action-packed day with boats reaching speeds of 120km in 2seconds, navigating islands in a track around the size of a rugby field.

The rotation has been set and sent for the competitors to memorise, and with only four qualifying runs to move into the elimination rounds, navigating the rotation correctly will be crucial.

There are three classes racing: Biolytix 400 Class run on avgas with V8 engines (412 cubic inch) producing around 500 horsepower, the PSP Suntuf Group A Class also run on avgas with around 650 horsepower, and the methanol-sucking monsters that are the Suzuki Superboats.

There are no engine restrictions and they pump out up to 1800 horsepower with big blocks, small blocks, super chargers, turbo chargers and even a quad rotor turbo. A full rotation takes around 60 seconds in this class.

The PSP team with Sam Newdick at the helm and Glenn Mason navigating will be throwing everything they've got into their defence of the PSP Suntuf Group A title that Newdick won last year.

However, Bevin and Kathy Muir or the newly-crowned world champion Dave Hopkins are going to give them get a clear run for their money.

The 400 class features the ladies' teams, Two-A-Breast and The Bitches Box, who will be out to strike another blow for equality, while the White Noize boys will have the added pressure of not only defending their title, but also double-driving the boat with the former champion Gerry Linklater returning from a season away from the water.

For those thrillseekers in the crowd who want to feel the experience of up to 6 G-forces, a draw will determine a winner. People can put their name in the draw to win a ride with local, and past NZ1 champion, Richard Murray as he takes the competition winner for a hot lap in the "Mean Machine", a Ford-powered Group A Class boat. Conditions will apply.

Two celebrities have also been confirmed to jump into the hot seat.

Jayden Carrick and Scott Moir, who are racing motorcycle on the Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day, will try to beat Mad Mike Whiddett's (NZ1 Drifter) leading time of 58.38.

Gates open at 11am on Saturday and racing is expected to finish around 4.30pm.