21/04/2026
PRESS RELEASE & WRAP UP: For the EC Griffith Cup Rnd of the Australian Formula Grand prix weekend at: we qualified 2nd out of the 15-x boat filed with a time of the Yarrawonga, Vic.
FRIDAY: Cancelled due to high winds
SATURDAY:
Qualifying & practice combined.
Results: 1st Rhys Coles (36.15sec) 2nd Sam Lucas (36.46sec) & 3rd Simon Troy (36.64sec) followed by the other 12 boats. We had x15 race boats in our class of GP formula race tunnels boats for the weekend!
Therefore, for the afternoon`s HEAT #1, we were pole 1 for the spilt field heat race where we finished 1st followed by Will Parker & Lachie Bride.
HEAT #2 of the split field race was 1st Rhys Coles, Simon Troy followed by Ewan Bricker in 3rd
SUNDAY:
We enjoyed x 3 races for the GP race boats
2 x Split field races (Odds & Evens) and then the ALL IN Final
ODDS Race:
There was an incident in this race at the start that caused some rearranging of the field with a driver alleged to be cutting across x2 other boats that resulted in Simon Troy and Ewan Bricker with some damage; however Ewen Bricker completed the race and took the win.
EVENS Race:
1st Will Parker, 2nd Sam Lucas & Lachie Bride in 3rd came home with a strong result.
THE SUNDAY MAIN FINAL:
The field was in order for the final feature from Pole 1: Sam Lucas (Go us), Will Parker, Ewen Bricker, Simon Troy, Lachie Bride, Nick Coles, Caleb Frost, Mathew Jordan, Hadley Deegan, Blake Coldrake, Rhys Coles, Peter Zala, Mitch Williams and then Try Hood.
Come the final we were on pole 1, but with the deficit of the Opti Mercury being its slow off the dock in acceleration, we got to turn 1 & 2 in 3rd position and that is where we stayed for the race. Sam tried and threw everything he could, but we simply didn’t have the speed to get by on the track, nor acceleration off the dock like the carbie boats. It’s something of a setback but we`ll keep thinking of ways to go quicker and overcome this inherit deficit, or we many end up going to a carbie motor like everyone else to overcome this disadvantage, we`ll see ?
So, in the end, the main race was 14 min plus one lap. It was fast and no one really made mistakes and everyone drove well. So, congrates to Will Parker on the round Win, followed by Ewen Bricker 2nd and Sam Lucas our man rounding out the podium for a hard-fought 3rd.
As always, we would like to thank the various clubs for hosting the racing, the volunteers for making this all happen and our families and friends that continually support us with this crazy boat racing thing that we love to do.
I`d also like to give a BIG shout out to CLUB MARINE and to Billy and the people that supported us this weekend – THANK YOU and I hope that we did you proud. We loved seeing your branding on the boat, marquee and the team crew clothing.
Also, a shout out to RIVERA luxury motor yachts for always
supporting us and being there for our journey- THANK YOU, your support is appreciated.
And our crew for the weekend- Daniel, Craig, Paul, Jake-Thank you.
Cheers
Sam & Stuart
* note of thx to for the pictures as well for the great pics to: Vandenberg Pitts, Bob Carter , all the torque photography, shot by Pete and anyone else I may of missed. 🙏
Australian Formula Powerboat Grandprix
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Victorian Outboard Club
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