9:34 AM Sun 21 Aug 2011 GMT
The Anglomoil Australian Formula Powerboat Grand Prix series will draw to its thrilling finale on the 27th and 28th August with the countries top racers descending on the Sydney International Regatta Centre to battle it out for top honours.
The series which attracts boats in the Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 outboard classes plus 6 Litre Pro Stock inboards and a healthy fleet of the best juniors, has been to Taree, Grafton and Port Macquarie before Penrith in 2011 and has produced some of the most exciting and closest racing in years.
This year, an international flavor will be a part of the weekend's racing when multiple Malaysian Powerboat Champion, Yanto Kadri, will debut a brand new boat which he will use as training to join the World F1 Powerboat Series in China this October.
Kadri flipped in spectacular fashion at Round 1 in Taree but has recovered well to sit third in the Formula 2 Championship leading into the final round. To add a twist, his brother, Boy Kadri will drive Yanto's older boat while Yanto tries to secure a championship with his new DAC hull.
In Formula 1, the awesome 220kph hi tech machines that can subject the drivers to over 4g's of force in the turns, the battle looks like it will be the highlight of the season with Queensland's Damien McKenzie, undefeated all year, now up against current Victorian Champion, Paul Eade in the Bud Light Seebold. McKenzie lost the championship last year on this course in a massive crash with the Watersports Marine craft allowing local entrant Shane Vella to secure the title. McKenzie will be will hoping to remain undefeated and claim the national crown.
Throw in a display and demo from the 2000hp World Blown Alcohol Champion, Troy Marland and his boat 'Madness', the awesome 6 Litre Pro Stock class, the largest field of junior boats ever and the title decider in Formula 3, the future training ground for Formula 1 and The Lightning on the Lakes Grand Finale at Penrith is set to be the best show on water ever to hit the Regatta Centre.
This year the Lightning on the Lakes, Anglomoil Formula Powerboat Finale will be racing to support the Violet Foundation. A great cause that raises money and awareness of the terrible Meningococcal Disease.
Entry is $10 per car, activities for the kids, car displays, race cars, Paul Madills unbelievable 200mph drag boat. It is a weekend for the whole family.
For more information see the AFPGP website:
www.formulapowerboats.com.au
by Chris Kuznetsoff
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Casey, TAS
